# Synergistic effects of multifactor interactions on the transmission of Echinococcus spp. on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

## TL;DR

This study explores how environmental factors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau influence the spread of Echinococcus parasites among wildlife and suggests ways to control their transmission.

## Contribution

The study introduces an ecoepidemiological framework highlighting synergistic interactions between environmental, host, and pathogen factors in Echinococcus transmission.

## Key findings

- Land surface temperature significantly negatively correlates with Echinococcus spp. distribution.
- Interactive effects between environmental factors exceed individual impacts on parasite transmission.
- High infection risk areas overlap with the Three-River-Source region and northeastern plateau.

## Abstract

The severe endemicity of Echinococcus spp. on the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau (QTP) necessitates the identification of key risk factors influencing its transmission and distribution in northeastern QTP sylvatic cycles, alongside multifactorial interactions within the "environment–host–parasite" system. Field monitoring, multi source remote sensing data, and geographic detector techniques were integrated to elucidate the coupling relationships between the distribution and dissemination of Echinococcus spp. and geographical environmental factors. Land surface temperature (LST) was identified as a critical risk factor, exhibiting a significant negative correlation with Echinococcus spp. distribution (P < 0.01), while the interactive effects between factors surpassed individual impacts. The highest potential infection risk was localized in areas overlapping the northeastern plateau and the Three-River-Source core region, characterized by pronounced temperature fluctuations, low humidity, and intense radiation. On the basis of these findings, an ecoepidemiological hypothesis is proposed: the unique QTP habitat facilitates the evolution of a multi host parasitic system in Echinococcus spp.; subsequent host-mediated environmental modifications optimize dispersal conditions, jointly amplifying Echinococcus spp. transmission; and the synergistic coupling of "environmental-host-pathogen" dynamics underpins Echinococcus spp. endemicity on the QTP. This study provides a technical foundation for early risk warning and targeted control strategies for natural Echinococcus spp. foci.

In this study, we investigate how the environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau influences the transmission of Echinococcus spp. By integrating field surveys with satellite data, we identify key environmental drivers such as land surface temperature, vegetation cover, and precipitation that shape the distribution of the parasite's wildlife hosts, including pikas, voles, wild foxes, stray dogs, etc. We demonstrate that the interaction between multiple factors, rather than any single variable, most strongly influences parasite spread. Our findings propose an ecoepidemiological framework linking plateau conditions, host adaptation, and pathogen persistence. This work provides a predictive tool for identifying high risk transmission zones and supports the development of targeted control strategies, contributing to management of zoonotic diseases in changing environments.