Shrub and forest proximity and cattle farming drive tick (Acari: Ixodidae) exposure risk in the SFTS endemic region of Chongqing, China

Tick distribution in China has significantly expanded with urbanization and climate change. Chongqing, in southwestern China, faces a significant risk of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which is transmitted primarily by ticks, but targeted prevention efforts are challenging due to unclear exposure pathways. This study combined generalized linear model (GLM), Bayesian networks, and Bayesian multivariate GLM to assess environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic drivers of tick exposure in southwestern China. Direct tick exposure risks primarily arose from proximity to shrublands and forests, and cattle farming. Pet ownership also increased risk, while proximity to croplands reduced exposure, likely due to pesticide/herbicide use and tillage. Bayesian networks revealed that socioeconomic factors indirectly mediated risk. Higher education levels reduced cattle farming likelihood and increased income tier, lowering exposure by altering land-use proximity and agricultural activities. Key factors showing no significant association included age or gender, grassland proximity, and crop cultivation. Bayesian methods resolved collinearity and mediation effects in GLM, clarifying township-level tick exposure mechanisms in Southwest China and mapping driver networks. Findings demonstrate that tick exposure stems from complex interactions among environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic factors. Prevention in mountainous southwest China should prioritize the shrubland/forest-cattle farming ecological interface.