The Effect of Habitat Fragmentation and Species Diversity Loss on Hantavirus Prevalence in Panama

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation and diversity loss due to increased conversion of natural habitats to agricultural uses influence the distribution and abundance of wildlife species and thus may change the ecology of pathogen transmission. We used hantaviruses in Panama as a research model to determine whether anthropogenic environmental change is associated with changes in the dynamics of viral transmission. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether hantavirus infection was correlated with spatial attributes of the landscape at both large and small scales or whether these changes are mediated by changes in community composition. When analyzed at coarse spatial scales, hantavirus reservoirs were more commonly found in disturbed habitats and edge habitats than in forested areas. At local scales, reservoir species dominance was significantly correlated with the slope of the terrain. To evaluate the effect of small-mammal diversity loss on infection dynamics, we implemented an experiment with selective species removal at experimental sites. Seroprevalence of hantavirus was higher in the community of small mammals and increased through time in the experimental sites. The higher seroprevalence in experimental plots suggests that greater diversity likely reduces encounter rates between infected and susceptible hosts. Our studies suggest that habitat loss and fragmentation and species diversity loss are altering hantavirus infection dynamics in Panama. Our work represents a multidisciplinary approach toward disease research that includes biodiversity concerns such as environmental change and degradation, human settlement patterns, and the ecology of host and nonhost species, work that may be especially important in tropical countries.

Landscape Fragmentation as a Risk Factor for Buruli Ulcer Disease in Ghana

“…25 As another example, habitat fragmentation was associated with the increase in hantavirus hosts, potentially increasing the potential for an outbreak of hantavirus infection in Panama. 27 Our results reveal that several landscape pattern metrics, for example, PD, ED, SHDI, and SIDI, were significantly different between BU case villages and reference villages, and two landscape fragmentation indices, PD and ED, were significantly and positively associated with BU presence in a village.…”

“…and geographic distribution of hosts, vectors, and pathogens involved in disease transmission and change the ecology of microorganisms, 27 as has been shown for Lyme disease in the northeastern United States. 25 As another example, habitat fragmentation was associated with the increase in hantavirus hosts, potentially increasing the potential for an outbreak of hantavirus infection in Panama.…”

Hantavirus Fever without Pulmonary Syndrome in Panama

“…Increasing seroprevalence in stable populations 8 suggests an increasing incidence of HV infections in Panama. The changing agroeconomy in Panama emphasizing rice monoculture, with increased rodent food supply and reduced rodent diversity, 29,30 may be increasing the risk of human HV infection.…”

Using Geographic Information System-based Ecologic Niche Models to Forecast the Risk of Hantavirus Infection in Shandong Province, China

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] Environmental changes in habitat could lead to an increase in virus transmission risk from infected rodents to humans. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Studies on HPS indicated that the emergence of hantavirus was associated with weather and climatic events like El Niño Southern Oscillation. 3,10,11 The prevalence of HFRS in China was determined by various environmental factors such as elevation, precipitation, temperature, vegetation, and soil types.…”