Parasites and wildlife in a changing world: The vector-host- pathogen interaction as a learning case

Rizzoli, Annapaola; Tagliapietra, Valentina; Cagnacci, Francesca; Marini, Giovanni; Arnoldi, Daniele; Rosso, Fausta; Rosà, Roberto

To fully understand the ecology and emergence of vector-borne diseases, it is critical to focus on vectorial capacity, and it is important to elucidate the factors in this complex interplay to find novel approaches to control (Kramer, 2016) . A paramount component of this parameter is the vector to host ratio, which in turn is dependent on changes in vector-host abundance and behaviour, as well as changes in vector-host choice. In this paper, we will summarize some of the most recent findings on the consequences of such changes mostly considering research work carried out during the last decade within the European context over the ecology and transmission dynamics of two flaviviruses, namely Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and West Nile Virus (WNV).