Rodents are reservoirs of various types of hantavirus,some of which are agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in humans.Each hantavirus is associated with a single rodent host species but successive spill-over event...Rodents are reservoirs of various types of hantavirus,some of which are agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in humans.Each hantavirus is associated with a single rodent host species but successive spill-over events may eventually lead to host-switching and new species’becoming host of a given pathogen.This study aims to gain an understanding of the spatial ecology of two hantavirus-host species,Akodon azarae,and Oligoryzomys flavescens,by identifying factors modulating their home range sizes and stability,and by evaluating intra-and interspecific spatial aggregation for these species and a third one—Oxymycterus rufus—living in sympatry.For this,eleven capture-mark-recapture surveys were carried out,spanning 22 months.We found that A.azarae males have larger and more mobile home ranges than females,independently of the season.Consequently,males could likely have a more relevant role in the transmission of hantavirus because of their greater exposure both to a higher number of contacts between individuals and viral contamination of the environment.Contrasting,O.flavescens individuals showed negligible displacements of their home range through time,which could limit the range of hantavirus spread in host populations.Since O.flavescens is host to Lechiguanas hantavirus(pathogenic to humans)this result encompasses epidemiological relevance,for it may imply the existence of local foci of infection.Additionally,individuals of both species performed excursions outside their home ranges.These events could enable hantavirus spread over distances beyond the normal range of movements and lead to new hantavirus outbreaks in formerly non-infected rodent populations,favoring the persistence of the virus in nature.展开更多
The main goal of the paper was to determine the habitat distribution of the house mouse(Mus musculus)within a rural landscape of Buenos Aires province,Argentina.We also studied the seasonal variation in abundance and ...The main goal of the paper was to determine the habitat distribution of the house mouse(Mus musculus)within a rural landscape of Buenos Aires province,Argentina.We also studied the seasonal variation in abundance and reproductive activity.The habitats studied were poultry farms,human houses in a small village,cropfields,pastures,cropfield and pasture edges,riparian habitats(streams),railway embankments and woodlots.We captured 817 M.musculus and 690 individuals of 5 native rodent species.M.musculus was captured in poultry farms,houses,riparian habitats,cropfield and borders,but it showed a significantly higher abundance in poultry farms compared to the other habitats.Its presence outside poultry farms was significantly related to the distance to streams and poultry farms.The mean trapping success index of M.musculus did not show significant variations between periods,but the proportion of active males was significantly higher in the spring-summer period than in the autumn-winter period.All captures of M.musculus in cropfields,borders and riparian habitats occurred in the spring-summer period.The capture of M.musculus in many types of habitats suggests that it can disperse outside poultry farms,and streams may be used as corridors.展开更多
基金the University of Buenos Aires for financial support UBACYT 20020170100235BA.
文摘Rodents are reservoirs of various types of hantavirus,some of which are agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in humans.Each hantavirus is associated with a single rodent host species but successive spill-over events may eventually lead to host-switching and new species’becoming host of a given pathogen.This study aims to gain an understanding of the spatial ecology of two hantavirus-host species,Akodon azarae,and Oligoryzomys flavescens,by identifying factors modulating their home range sizes and stability,and by evaluating intra-and interspecific spatial aggregation for these species and a third one—Oxymycterus rufus—living in sympatry.For this,eleven capture-mark-recapture surveys were carried out,spanning 22 months.We found that A.azarae males have larger and more mobile home ranges than females,independently of the season.Consequently,males could likely have a more relevant role in the transmission of hantavirus because of their greater exposure both to a higher number of contacts between individuals and viral contamination of the environment.Contrasting,O.flavescens individuals showed negligible displacements of their home range through time,which could limit the range of hantavirus spread in host populations.Since O.flavescens is host to Lechiguanas hantavirus(pathogenic to humans)this result encompasses epidemiological relevance,for it may imply the existence of local foci of infection.Additionally,individuals of both species performed excursions outside their home ranges.These events could enable hantavirus spread over distances beyond the normal range of movements and lead to new hantavirus outbreaks in formerly non-infected rodent populations,favoring the persistence of the virus in nature.
基金funded by Universidad de Buenos Aires(UBACYT X098)Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica(ANPCYT,PICT 12303 and 33513)grants.
文摘The main goal of the paper was to determine the habitat distribution of the house mouse(Mus musculus)within a rural landscape of Buenos Aires province,Argentina.We also studied the seasonal variation in abundance and reproductive activity.The habitats studied were poultry farms,human houses in a small village,cropfields,pastures,cropfield and pasture edges,riparian habitats(streams),railway embankments and woodlots.We captured 817 M.musculus and 690 individuals of 5 native rodent species.M.musculus was captured in poultry farms,houses,riparian habitats,cropfield and borders,but it showed a significantly higher abundance in poultry farms compared to the other habitats.Its presence outside poultry farms was significantly related to the distance to streams and poultry farms.The mean trapping success index of M.musculus did not show significant variations between periods,but the proportion of active males was significantly higher in the spring-summer period than in the autumn-winter period.All captures of M.musculus in cropfields,borders and riparian habitats occurred in the spring-summer period.The capture of M.musculus in many types of habitats suggests that it can disperse outside poultry farms,and streams may be used as corridors.
