International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 233-243 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 235 certain viruses in dominant host species (Schmid et al., 2018). Additionally, urbanization and agriculture can alter wildlife ecology by providing novel resources, such as food, which can either enhance or reduce disease transmission depending on the specific pathogen and host interactions (Becker et al., 2015). The availability of high-quality habitats can support better nutrition and immune function in wildlife, potentially reducing susceptibility to infections (Becker et al., 2019). Figure 1 Effect of SNP genotype in a) LTα and b) IFNβ on the risk of infection and parasite abundance. % of infected voles is given in graphs where the allele affected the risk of infection (Adopted from Kloch et al., 2021) 3.2 Impact of climate change on disease spread Climate change significantly impacts the spread of infectious diseases in wildlife by altering the interactions between hosts, pathogens, and vectors. Changes in temperature and weather patterns can affect the distribution, life cycles, and physiological status of these organisms, leading to shifts in disease dynamics (Gallana et al., 2013). For example, the thermal mismatch hypothesis suggests that hosts adapted to cooler climates experience increased disease risk during abnormally warm periods, while those from warmer climates face higher risks during cooler periods (Cohen et al., 2020). This effect is particularly pronounced in ectothermic hosts, whose immune responses are highly temperature-dependent. Climate change can also modulate disease through changes in ecological networks and interactions with other environmental stressors, leading to complex and non-linear responses in disease systems (Hemert et al., 2014).
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