The phrase "alternative hosts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing different species or environments that can support a particular organism, such as a virus or parasite.
Example: "In the study of viral transmission, researchers identified several alternative hosts that could facilitate the spread of the disease."
Alternatives: "substitute hosts" or "secondary hosts".
But she said scientists "don't have a hypothesis for alternative hosts".
If deer are removed from an area, ticks will seek alternative hosts.
Indeed, there have been rumours that America has been lined up as alternative hosts should they not shape up sharpish, with 2018 destined for Europe and 2022 apparently Asia- (or possibly Australia-) bound.
Because all Ribes species are alternative hosts of the destructive blister rust fungus, which also attacks white pines, there are local prohibitions to growing Ribes near any white pine plantations.
Other potential ZYMV alternative hosts have been identified in ornamental species including begonia.
Alternative hosts allow parasitoids to increase their numbers and consequently to apply a higher pressure on aphids in wheat crops.
In this case all Varanus services other than the collection service must migrate their state to alternative hosts (unless already done so).
Furthermore, by transferring to alternative hosts one may take advantage of a range of technologies developed for general platform cell factories like Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Non-crop areas surrounding farms can support pest populations if they provide overwintering habitats or alternative hosts for them to feed and/or mate.
As cereal aphids are only present during 2 3 months per year in cereal crops, their parasitoids rely on alternative hosts to complete their life cycle.
At wheat ripening, complex landscapes were related to higher parasitism than simple landscapes, presumably due to more overwintering sites, alternative hosts and nectar sources for parasitoids.
