Movimientos de roedores intra- e inter-ambiente y riesgo de exposición al Hantavirus "Andes" en Patagonia norte, Argentina

Abstract

RESUMEN.Se estudiaron algunos aspectos de la ecología espacial de tres especies de roedores sigmodontinos (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix olivacea y Abrothrix hirta) en el Paraje El Contra del Parque Nacional Lanín (Provincia de Neuquén, Argentina). Los resultados se analizaron en el marco del riesgo de exposición humana al Hantavirus "Andes", agente causal del Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus. El trabajo se realizó en dos tipos de ambiente: silvestre y doméstico. Los roedores fueron capturados mensualmente con la metodología de captura-marcado-recaptura. De esta manera se estimaron y compararon los movimientos dentro y entre ambos ambientes y los tamaños de áreas de acción. Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, principal reservorio del Hantavirus "Andes" en Patagonia, presentó el mayor número de capturas en ambos ambientes y más de lo esperado por azar dentro de los ambientes domésticos. Además, mostró las áreas de acción con menor tamaño promedio y movimientos intra-ambiente estadísticamente significativos. Los ambientes domésticos rurales resultaron ser potencialmente los más riesgosos en términos de exposición y transmisión de Hantavirus a humanos. Como resultado de las capturas y movimientos dispersivos de O. longicaudatus, se discuten otras contribuciones de este trabajo a la salud humana.[Palabras clave: dispersión, ambientes domésticos y silvestres, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Parque Nacional Lanín, sigmodontinae, uso de hábitat, zoonosis]ABSTRACT. Intra-and inter-environment movements of rodents and risk of exposure to "Andes" Hantavirus in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Some aspects of the spatial ecology of three species of sigmodontine rodents (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix olivacea and Abrothrix hirta) were studied in the Paraje El Contra, Lanín National Park (Province of Neuquén, Argentina), and the results were then analyzed in relation to the risk of human exposure to "Andes" Hantavirus, causative agent of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. The work was conducted in two environment types (sylvan and domestic), where mice were monthly captured using capture-mark-recapture methodology. Thus, movements within and between environments and home ranges sizes were estimated and compared. Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, principal reservoir of "Andes" Hantavirus in Patagonia, showed the largest number of captures in both environments and more captures than those expected by random within domestic environments. Moreover, it showed the lowest average home range sizes, and statistically significant intra environment movements. Rural domestic environments resulted to be the riskiest in terms of exposure and transmission of Hantavirus to humans. Other contributions of this work to human health are discussed as a result of captures and dispersal movements of O. longicaudatus.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

“…On the other hand, in natural areas, the rodent species most frequently captured was A. hirta; this, like A. olivacea, had a high prevalence of Rickettsia-positive eas. This rodent decreased its presence in areas with human intervention, which is consistent with the ndings reported by Monteverde and Hadora [33], who described that this rodent preferably moves within the wild environment. Rodent populations can act as "source populations" and may be involved in the direct transmission of the pathogen to the target population [34].…”

“…Abrothrix olivacea was the most frequently captured wild species in urban and rural areas and had the highest ea richness and the highest number of Rickettsia-positive eas. This species has been described to have a "random walk" type of dispersal behavior, so it can easily go from wild to domestic environments [33]. These ndings are important because these rodent species could act as "bridge hosts" and aid in the spread of the disease [32,34].…”

Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

“…On the other hand, in natural areas, the rodent species most frequently captured was A. hirta; this, like A. olivacea, had a high prevalence of Rickettsia-positive eas. This rodent decreased its presence in areas with human intervention, which is consistent with the ndings reported by Monteverde and Hadora [33], who described that this rodent preferably moves within the wild environment. Rodent populations can act as "source populations" and may be involved in the direct transmission of the pathogen to the target population [34].…”

“…Abrothrix olivacea was the most frequently captured wild species in urban and rural areas and had the highest ea richness and the highest number of Rickettsia-positive eas. This species has been described to have a "random walk" type of dispersal behavior, so it can easily go from wild to domestic environments [33]. These ndings are important because these rodent species could act as "bridge hosts" and aid in the spread of the disease [32,34].…”

Molecular detection of Bartonella in fleas (Hexapoda, Siphonaptera) collected from wild rodents (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from Argentina

“…The fleas analysed in the present study were collected in natural areas, far from humans and domestic animals, and N. crackensis was reported only in association with sigmodontines (Lareschi et al ., ). However, some sigmodontinae rodents, such as A. hirta , were reported to move between natural and domestic areas (Piudo et al ., ; Monteverde & Hodara, ), with a potential risk of the dispersion of their fleas. Although the importance of the Bartonella spp.…”