Phylogenetic insights into the transmission dynamics of arthropod-borne viruses

Abstract

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) impose substantial global health and economic burdens, affecting both human and animal populations. These viruses — including dengue, chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever and bluetongue viruses — have complex transmission cycles involving vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Their circulation in livestock and wildlife complicate surveillance, as traditional epidemiological approaches rely mainly on human clinical data. Climate change and increasing global interconnectedness are accelerating their emergence and invasion, necessitating a deeper understanding of their ecological and epidemiological dynamics. Advances in genomic surveillance and phylogenetics can provide insights into spatial and temporal patterns of virus transmission that are difficult to obtain through traditional surveillance systems. By integrating phylogenetic models with ecological and epidemiological data, we can better detect and respond to arbovirus introductions, spillovers and outbreaks that are relevant to both human and veterinary health.