Community ecology of domestic animals and wildlife at solid waste disposal sites near dong phayayen – khaoyai forest complex and its impacts on zoonotic diseases

Solid waste disposal sites (SWS) near the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex act as critical hotspots for zoonotic disease transmission, with domestic dogs and the rodent Rattus rattus serving as key bridge species that facilitate pathogen spillover between diurnal and nocturnal animals. Despite high host densities at SWS, chigger prevalence was lower than in semi-natural forest habitats, yet Leptotrombidium deliense—the primary vector for scrub typhus—showed a 35-fold specificity to R. rattus. Network analysis revealed distinct habitat-host modules and host-chigger compartments, indicating that transmission risk is driven by network topology rather than biodiversity alone. The study suggests that interventions should focus on restricting SWS within 2 km of protected areas, targeting surveillance on dogs and R. rattus, and implementing One Health approaches to monitor waste workers and surrounding communities.

Lekcharoen, P. Community ecology of domestic animals and wildlife at solid waste disposal sites near dong phayayen – khaoyai forest complex and its impacts on zoonotic diseases. https://doi.org/10.58837/chula.the.2025.307