Data from: Prediction and attenuation of seasonal spillover of parasites between wild and domestic ungulates in an arid mixed-use system

1.Transmission of parasites between host species affects host population
dynamics, interspecific competition, and ecosystem structure and function.
In areas where wild and domestic herbivores share grazing land, management
of parasites in livestock may affect or be affected by sympatric wildlife
due to cross-species transmission. 2.We develop a novel method for
simulating transmission potential based on both biotic and abiotic factors
in a semi-arid system in Botswana. Optimal timing of antiparasitic
treatment in livestock is then compared under a variety of alternative
host scenarios, including seasonally migrating wild hosts. 3.In this
region, rainfall is the primary driver of seasonality of transmission, but
wildlife migration leads to spatial differences in the effectiveness of
treatment in domestic animals. Additionally, competent migratory wildlife
hosts move parasites across the landscape. 4.Simulated transmission
potential matches observed patterns of clinical disease in the study area.
Increased wildlife contact is correlated with a decrease in disease,
suggesting that noncompetent wild hosts may attenuate transmission by
removing infective parasite larvae from livestock pasture. 5.Optimising
the timing of treatment according to within-year rainfall patterns was
considerably more effective than treating at a standard time of year. By
targeting treatment in this way, efficient control can be achieved,
mitigating parasite spillover from wildlife where it does occur.
6.Synthesis and applications: This model of parasite transmission
potential enables evidence-based management of parasite spillover between
wild and domestic species in a spatio-temporally dynamic system. It can be
applied in other mixed-use systems to mitigate parasite transmission under
altered climate scenarios or changes in host ranges.