Study links rainforest destruction to higher viral prevalence in mosquitoes

Charité researchers published in eLife that tropical rainforest clearance reduces mosquito diversity and increases the prevalence of viruses carried by resilient surviving species. The findings reinforce why biodiversity preservation matters to public health and strengthen the case for nature-related risk assessment in corporate land-use and supply-chain decisions.

Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, published in eLife a study connecting environmental change, biodiversity loss, and pathogen spread. Catching mosquitoes around Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire across land uses from pristine rainforest to cacao and coffee plantations and settlements, they identified 49 distinct virus species. The highest diversity of hosts and viruses was found in undisturbed habitats, while clearance reduced mosquito species diversity and let resilient species thrive.

The findings affect public health authorities, conservation planners, and land-use decision-makers, including those converting rainforest for coffee, cacao plantations, or settlements. As biodiversity declined, resilient mosquito species with larger populations carried a surge in viral abundance, increasing prevalence and spread. The study shows the composition of the host species community drives virus dissemination, with abundant host species facilitating rapid spread. This shifts understanding from individual pathogens toward a holistic view of how biodiversity loss raises disease risk.

Stakeholders should treat biodiversity preservation as essential to maintaining balanced ecosystems and resisting unchecked virus proliferation. Led by Prof. Sandra Junglen, the team plans to explore habitats in various countries to further understand factors affecting mosquito species diversity and viral characteristics essential for host transmission. Companies and policymakers managing land-use change can monitor this research line, which lays groundwork for informed strategies to mitigate the impacts of environmental change on global health and biodiversity.

Key figure — Virus species identified: 49 distinct species across studied habitats