Infestation, community structure, seasonal fluctuation and climate-driven dynamics of mites on small mammals at a focus of scrub typhus in southwest China

Community indices fluctuated monthly without distinct peaks, while dominant species abundances varied significantly. Climatic factors exerted species-specific effects: <i>L. deliense</i> peaked in July (30.0 mites/host; 95% CI: 29.2-30.8) coinciding with maximal temperatures, while <i>A. indica</i> peaked in August (25.1 mites/host; 95% CI: 24.5-25.8), lagging peak rainfall. Non-overlapping confidence intervals indicated temporal niche separation between species. Mite-mite networks revealed positive intragroup correlations but no significant intergroup correlations. Host-mite networks demonstrated low host specificity: individual hosts harbored multiple mite species, and individual mite species parasitized multiple hosts. High mite abundance, co-occurrence of multiple vector species, and low host specificity collectively elevate transmission risks and persistence of scrub typhus and HFRS.