Potential host species and geographical areas for zoonotic microparasites

Brazil is a potential hotspot for the emergence of novel zoonotic diseases due to its high mammalian diversity. To assess variations in the distribution of zoonotic microparasites among host species and Brazilian states, we employed Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities (HMSC), which enables the incorporation of host traits, parasite transmission modes, and taxonomic relationships across multiple hierarchical levels. In this context, we pose four questions: (i) Are host traits (i.e., body mass, litter size, dietary guild, activity period, and foraging stratum) correlated with parasite diversity? (ii) What is the potential distribution of zoonotic microparasites within these hosts in terms of suitability (i.e., favourable environments)? (iii) Is transmission mode a shared microparasite response to host traits? (iv) Is there taxonomic convergence among parasites in relation to influential host traits?Auxiliary scripts and datasets are found here.