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Portella TP, Sudbrack V, Coutinho RM, Prado PI, Kraenkel RA. Bayesian spatio-temporal modeling to assess the effect of land-use changes on the incidence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Brazilian Amazon. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176064. [PMID: 39245386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania and is considered one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. The Brazilian Amazon Forest harbors one of the highest diversity of Leishmania parasites and vectors and is one of the main focuses of the disease in the Americas. Previous studies showed that some types of anthropogenic disturbances have affected the abundance and distribution of CL vectors and hosts; however, few studies have thoroughly investigated the influence of different classes of land cover and land-use changes on the disease transmission risk. Here, we quantify the effect of land use and land-cover changes on the incidence of CL in all municipalities within the Brazilian Amazon Forest, from 2001 to 2017. We used a structured spatiotemporal Bayesian model to assess the effect of forest cover, agriculture, livestock, extractivism, and- deforestation on CL incidence, accounting for confounding variables such as population, climate, socioeconomic, and spatiotemporal random effects. We found that the increased risk of CL was associated with deforestation, especially modulated by a positive interaction between forest cover and livestock. Landscapes with ongoing deforestation for extensive cattle ranching are typically found in municipalities within the Amazon Frontier, where a high relative risk for CL was also identified. These findings provide valuable insights into developing effective public health policies and land-use planning to ensure healthier landscapes for people.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Portella
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Bioscience, 321 Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, Cidade Universitária, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508090, Brazil.
| | - V Sudbrack
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - R M Coutinho
- Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Center for Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Bairro Bangu, Santo André, SP CEP 09210-580, Brazil
| | - P I Prado
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Bioscience, 321 Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, Cidade Universitária, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508090, Brazil
| | - R A Kraenkel
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT), R. Dr. Bento Teobaldo Ferraz, 271, Bloco II, Barra-Funda, São Paulo, SP CEP 01140-070, Brazil
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2
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Neves DM, Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Silveira FT, Vasconcelos Dos Santos T. Nocturnal activity and forestry-urban dispersal of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from an ecotourism park in Amazonian Brazil. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:tjae120. [PMID: 39312570 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are insects of notorious importance in public health, mainly due to their involvement in the transmission of Leishmania protozoa. Their flight activity occurs predominantly in the twilight/night period, being stimulated mainly by the need to search for food and reproduction. Despite being naturally wild, some species are able to invade anthropized environments. Present work aimed to assess the nocturnal activity and forestry-urban dispersal of phlebotomine sand flies from an ecotourism park in Belém, Amazonian Brazil. The study area comprised a horizontal transect, extending from a forest park to the neighboring urban environment, in Belém. Sampling was conducted with night-operating light traps. Nocturnal activity was assessed through time-set captures with a collection bottle rotator in the forest environment. Dispersal was assessed through captures carried out along the transect, starting from the forest edge (0 m), extending to the urban environment (50-200 m), phlebotomine sand flies were identified. Abundance, richness, diversity, and sampling sufficiency were estimated. Fourteen species were recorded in the surveyed environments, with Nyssomyia antunesi, Trichophoromyia brachipyga, and Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis being the most abundant. Nocturnal activity behavior of Ny. antunesi occurred between 8 PM and 4 AM while that of Th. brachipyga and Th. ubiquitalis occurred between 2 AM and 6 AM. In the urban environment, the 150 m site presented the highest abundance. Bichromomyia flaviscutellata was sampled in all sites. Gravid females of Pressatia choti and Bi. flaviscutellata were sampled in the urban environment. Putative differential activity between the species herein assessed and their urban dispersal observed are worthy of note, adding data for supporting vector surveillance at a local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielly Mota Neves
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil
- Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Pará State, Brazil
| | - Yetsenia Del Valle Sánchez Uzcátegui
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil
- Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Pará State, Brazil
- Departamento de Biología, Faculdad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | | | - Thiago Vasconcelos Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil
- Seção de Parasitologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Pará State, Brazil
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de Thoisy B, Gräf T, Mansur DS, Delfraro A, Dos Santos CND. The Risk of Virus Emergence in South America: A Subtle Balance Between Increasingly Favorable Conditions and a Protective Environment. Annu Rev Virol 2024; 11:43-65. [PMID: 38848594 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100422-024648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
South American ecosystems host astonishing biodiversity, with potentially great richness in viruses. However, these ecosystems have not yet been the source of any widespread, epidemic viruses. Here we explore a set of putative causes that may explain this apparent paradox. We discuss that human presence in South America is recent, beginning around 14,000 years ago; that few domestications of native species have occurred; and that successive immigration events associated with Old World virus introductions reduced the likelihood of spillovers and adaptation of local viruses into humans. Also, the diversity and ecological characteristics of vertebrate hosts might serve as protective factors. Moreover, although forest areas remained well preserved until recently, current brutal, sudden, and large-scale clear cuts through the forest have resulted in nearly no ecotones, which are essential for creating an adaptive gradient of microbes, hosts, and vectors. This may be temporarily preventing virus emergence. Nevertheless, the mid-term effect of such drastic changes in habitats and landscapes, coupled with explosive urbanization and climate changes, must not be overlooked by health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit de Thoisy
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Tiago Gräf
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Brazil;
| | - Daniel Santos Mansur
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia, e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Adriana Delfraro
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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4
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Talukder H, Muñoz-Zanzi C, Salgado M, Berg S, Yang A. Identifying the Drivers Related to Animal Reservoirs, Environment, and Socio-Demography of Human Leptospirosis in Different Community Types of Southern Chile: An Application of Machine Learning Algorithm in One Health Perspective. Pathogens 2024; 13:687. [PMID: 39204287 PMCID: PMC11357164 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13080687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with global public health impact, particularly in poor socio-economic settings in tropical regions. Transmitted through urine-contaminated water or soil from rodents, dogs, and livestock, leptospirosis causes over a million clinical cases annually. Risk factors include outdoor activities, livestock production, and substandard housing that foster high densities of animal reservoirs. This One Health study in southern Chile examined Leptospira serological evidence of exposure in people from urban slums, semi-rural settings, and farm settings, using the Extreme Gradient Boosting algorithm to identify key influencing factors. In urban slums, age, shrub terrain, distance to Leptospira-positive households, and neighborhood housing density were contributing factors. Human exposure in semi-rural communities was linked to environmental factors (trees, shrubs, and lower vegetation terrain) and animal variables (Leptospira-positive dogs and rodents and proximity to Leptospira-positive households). On farms, dog counts, animal Leptospira prevalence, and proximity to Leptospira-contaminated water samples were significant drivers. The study underscores that disease dynamics vary across landscapes, with distinct drivers in each community setting. This case study demonstrates how the integration of machine learning with comprehensive cross-sectional epidemiological and geospatial data provides valuable insights into leptospirosis eco-epidemiology. These insights are crucial for informing targeted public health strategies and generating hypotheses for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himel Talukder
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA;
| | - Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Miguel Salgado
- Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Sergey Berg
- Department of Computer & Information Science, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA;
| | - Anni Yang
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA;
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Meyer M, Melville DW, Baldwin HJ, Wilhelm K, Nkrumah EE, Badu EK, Oppong SK, Schwensow N, Stow A, Vallo P, Corman VM, Tschapka M, Drosten C, Sommer S. Bat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2887. [PMID: 38575573 PMCID: PMC10994947 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46979-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent loss of biodiversity are altering species abundances and communities. Since species vary in their pathogen competence, spatio-temporal changes in host assemblages may lead to changes in disease dynamics. We explore how longitudinal changes in bat species assemblages affect the disease dynamics of coronaviruses (CoVs) in more than 2300 cave-dwelling bats captured over two years from five caves in Ghana. This reveals uneven CoV infection patterns between closely related species, with the alpha-CoV 229E-like and SARS-related beta-CoV 2b emerging as multi-host pathogens. Prevalence and infection likelihood for both phylogenetically distinct CoVs is influenced by the abundance of competent species and naïve subadults. Broadly, bat species vary in CoV competence, and highly competent species are more common in less diverse communities, leading to increased CoV prevalence in less diverse bat assemblages. In line with the One Health framework, our work supports the notion that biodiversity conservation may be the most proactive measure to prevent the spread of pathogens with zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Meyer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Dominik W Melville
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Heather J Baldwin
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Evans Ewald Nkrumah
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer K Badu
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Kingsley Oppong
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Nina Schwensow
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Adam Stow
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Vallo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Victor M Corman
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
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6
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Hartig F, Abrego N, Bush A, Chase JM, Guillera-Arroita G, Leibold MA, Ovaskainen O, Pellissier L, Pichler M, Poggiato G, Pollock L, Si-Moussi S, Thuiller W, Viana DS, Warton DI, Zurell D, Yu DW. Novel community data in ecology-properties and prospects. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:280-293. [PMID: 37949795 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
New technologies for monitoring biodiversity such as environmental (e)DNA, passive acoustic monitoring, and optical sensors promise to generate automated spatiotemporal community observations at unprecedented scales and resolutions. Here, we introduce 'novel community data' as an umbrella term for these data. We review the emerging field around novel community data, focusing on new ecological questions that could be addressed; the analytical tools available or needed to make best use of these data; and the potential implications of these developments for policy and conservation. We conclude that novel community data offer many opportunities to advance our understanding of fundamental ecological processes, including community assembly, biotic interactions, micro- and macroevolution, and overall ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Hartig
- Theoretical Ecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Nerea Abrego
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (Survontie 9C), FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Alex Bush
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Jonathan M Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (Survontie 9C), FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland; Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Giovanni Poggiato
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, F38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Laura Pollock
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sara Si-Moussi
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, F38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Wilfried Thuiller
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, F38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | | | | | - Douglas W Yu
- Kunming Institute of Zoology; Yunnan, China; University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
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7
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Silva GGD, Lopez VM, Vilarinho AC, Datto-Liberato FH, Oliveira CJF, Poulin R, Guillermo-Ferreira R. Vector species richness predicts local mortality rates from Chagas disease. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:139-145. [PMID: 37944883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Vector species richness may drive the prevalence of vector-borne diseases by influencing pathogen transmission rates. The dilution effect hypothesis predicts that higher biodiversity reduces disease prevalence, but with inconclusive evidence. In contrast, the amplification effect hypothesis suggests that higher vector diversity may result in greater disease transmission by increasing and diversifying the transmission pathways. The relationship between vector diversity and pathogen transmission remains unclear and requires further study. Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease most prevalent in Brazil and transmitted by multiple species of insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae, yet the drivers of spatial variation in its impact on human populations remain unresolved. We tested whether triatomine species richness, latitude, bioclimatic variables, human host population density, and socioeconomic variables predict Chagas disease mortality rates across over 5000 spatial grid cells covering all of Brazil. Results show that species richness of triatomine vectors is a good predictor of mortality rates caused by Chagas disease, which supports the amplification effect hypothesis. Vector richness and the impact of Chagas disease may also be driven by latitudinal components of climate and human socioeconomic factors. We provide evidence that vector diversity is a strong predictor of disease prevalence and give support to the amplification effect hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Gonzaga da Silva
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Marques Lopez
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Vilarinho
- Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe H Datto-Liberato
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectiology, Department of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira
- Lestes Laboratory, Center of Entomology and Experimental Biology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Federal University of Sao Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Entomology, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine and Infectiology, Department of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
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Rieseberg L, Warschefsky E, Burton J, Huang K, Sibbett B. Editorial 2024. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17239. [PMID: 38146175 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Loren Rieseberg
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emily Warschefsky
- William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jade Burton
- John Wiley & Sons, Atrium Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, UK
| | - Kaichi Huang
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Sibbett
- John Wiley & Sons, Atrium Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, UK
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Courtenay O, Marinho-Júnior JF, Brito MEF, Monteiro JFCLS, Shaw JJ, Brandão-Filho SP. Incidence of Human and Free-Ranging Wild Rodent Infections with Leishmania ( Viannia) braziliensis, Aetiological Agent of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Pathogens 2023; 12:1395. [PMID: 38133280 PMCID: PMC10746019 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human and wild rodent infection rates with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are needed to differentiate transmission pathways in anthropogenically altered habitats. METHODS Human participants in northeast Brazil were tested by the leishmanin skin test (LST) and inspected for lesions/scars characteristic of American clinical leishmaniasis (ACL). Molecular (PCR/qPCR) test records of free-ranging rodents were available from a concurrent capture-mark-recapture study. Force of Infection (λ) and recovery (ρ) rates were estimated from cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets. RESULTS Cumulative prevalences of human LST+ves and ACL scar+ves were 0.343-0.563 (n = 503 participants) and 0.122-0.475 (n = 503), respectively. Active ACL lesions were not detected. Annual rates of LST conversions were λ = 0.03-0.15 and ρ = 0.02-0.07. The probability of infection was independent of sex and associated with increasing age in addition to the period of exposure. Rodents (n = 596 individuals of 6 species) showed high rates of exclusively asymptomatic infection (λ = 0.222/month) and potential infectiousness to the sand fly vector. Spatially concurrent rodent and household human infection prevalences were correlated. CONCLUSIONS Human exposure to L. (V.) braziliensis continues to be high despite the substantial drop in reported ACL cases in recent years. Spill-over transmission risk to humans from rodents in peridomestic habitats is likely supported by a rodent infection/transmission corridor linking houses, plantations, and the Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orin Courtenay
- Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV8 2PB, UK
| | - José F. Marinho-Júnior
- Departament of Immunology, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães/FIOCRUZ, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (J.F.M.-J.); (M.E.F.B.); (J.F.C.L.S.M.); (S.P.B.-F.)
| | - Maria Edileuza F. Brito
- Departament of Immunology, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães/FIOCRUZ, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (J.F.M.-J.); (M.E.F.B.); (J.F.C.L.S.M.); (S.P.B.-F.)
| | - Juliana F. C. L. S. Monteiro
- Departament of Immunology, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães/FIOCRUZ, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (J.F.M.-J.); (M.E.F.B.); (J.F.C.L.S.M.); (S.P.B.-F.)
| | - Jeffrey J. Shaw
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 03001-000, SP, Brazil;
| | - Sinval P. Brandão-Filho
- Departament of Immunology, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães/FIOCRUZ, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-465, PE, Brazil; (J.F.M.-J.); (M.E.F.B.); (J.F.C.L.S.M.); (S.P.B.-F.)
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10
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Cañeda-Guzmán IC, de Oca-Aguilar ACM, Miranda-Caballero CI, Grostieta E, Correa-Morales F, Romero-Pérez R, Romero-Contreras FE, Rodríguez-Atanacio JA, Ruiz-Tovar K, Huerta H, Mis-Avila PC, Quintanilla-Cedillo MR, Lammoglia-Villagómez MA, Blum-Domínguez S, Tamay-Segovia P, Rojas-Ronquillo R, Sánchez-Montes S, Becker I. Entomological Survey and Leishmania ( Leishmania) mexicana Prevalence in Sand Fly Species during an Outbreak of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Quintana Roo State, Mexico. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:465. [PMID: 37888593 PMCID: PMC10610947 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected vector-borne disease that has become a serious public health problem in the Yucatan Peninsula. Although more than 60% of cases originate from the state of Quintana Roo, it is one of the least explored areas in terms of incriminating vectors of the Leishmania parasite. Additionally, cases of leishmaniasis have increased substantially in that region in recent years. For this reason, we explored and provided primary evidence of Leishmania DNA in sand fly species from four localities during outbreaks of leishmaniasis in Quintana Roo. We also contributed information on the regional genetic diversity of Leishmania parasites. (2) Methods: Sand flies were collected during several periods from November 2022 to April 2023 using Mosquito Light Circle and Shannon traps, as well as an active entomological search in refuges. For Leishmania detection, we amplified a fragment of 300-350 bp of the internal transcribed spacer subunit 1 (ITS-1). (3) Results: Of the 242 females collected, we detected Leishmania DNA in 25 specimens represented by Bichromomyia olmeca (1), Psathyromyia shannoni (17), Lutzomyia cruciata (4), Psathyromyia undulata (2), and Dampfomyia deleoni (1). The detection of Leishmania in these last two species represents new records for the Yucatan Peninsula and for Mexico. Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana was the only species detected in the Phlebotominae species, with prevalence values that ranked between 7.41% and 33.33% from specimens collected in the sylvatic areas of Cozumel Island and Petcacab. (4) Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence of infection of Da. deleoni and Pa. undulata by L. (L.) Mexicana. In addition, the presence of three dominant haplotypes in all the evaluated localities was evidenced using the analysis of genetic diversity, and the locality of Petcacab was the one with the circulation of two new haplotypes not previously described in Mexico or neighboring countries. These results highlight the importance of intensive epidemiological surveillance due to the dynamics of transmission of Leishmania between different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel C. Cañeda-Guzmán
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (I.C.C.-G.); (C.I.M.-C.); (E.G.)
| | - Ana C. Montes de Oca-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán 97000, Yucatán, Mexico;
| | - Carlos I. Miranda-Caballero
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (I.C.C.-G.); (C.I.M.-C.); (E.G.)
| | - Estefania Grostieta
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (I.C.C.-G.); (C.I.M.-C.); (E.G.)
| | - Fabián Correa-Morales
- Programa de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores, Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 11800, Mexico; (F.C.-M.); (R.R.-P.); (F.E.R.-C.); (J.A.R.-A.)
| | - Raquel Romero-Pérez
- Programa de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores, Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 11800, Mexico; (F.C.-M.); (R.R.-P.); (F.E.R.-C.); (J.A.R.-A.)
| | - Francisco E. Romero-Contreras
- Programa de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores, Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 11800, Mexico; (F.C.-M.); (R.R.-P.); (F.E.R.-C.); (J.A.R.-A.)
| | - José A. Rodríguez-Atanacio
- Programa de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores, Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 11800, Mexico; (F.C.-M.); (R.R.-P.); (F.E.R.-C.); (J.A.R.-A.)
| | - Karina Ruiz-Tovar
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos ‘Dr, Manuel Martínez Báez’, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 01480, Mexico; (K.R.-T.); (H.H.)
| | - Herón Huerta
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos ‘Dr, Manuel Martínez Báez’, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 01480, Mexico; (K.R.-T.); (H.H.)
| | - Pedro. C Mis-Avila
- Departamento de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vector y Zoonosis, Servicios Estatales de Salud de Quintana Roo, Chetumal Quintana Roo 77000, Mexico
| | | | - Miguel A. Lammoglia-Villagómez
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Veracruz 92870, Mexico; (M.A.L.-V.); (R.R.-R.)
| | - Selene Blum-Domínguez
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Tropicales, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24039, Mexico;
| | - Paulino Tamay-Segovia
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores y Zoonosis, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche 24039, Mexico;
| | - Rebeca Rojas-Ronquillo
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Veracruz 92870, Mexico; (M.A.L.-V.); (R.R.-R.)
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (I.C.C.-G.); (C.I.M.-C.); (E.G.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Veracruz 92870, Mexico; (M.A.L.-V.); (R.R.-R.)
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06720, Mexico; (I.C.C.-G.); (C.I.M.-C.); (E.G.)
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Douchet P, Gourbal B, Loker ES, Rey O. Schistosoma transmission: scaling-up competence from hosts to ecosystems. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:563-574. [PMID: 37120369 PMCID: PMC10880732 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
In a One-Health context, it is urgent to establish the links between environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the circulation of pathogens. Here we review and literally draw a general vision of aquatic environmental factors that interface with Schistosoma species, agents of schistosomiasis, and ultimately modulate their transmission at the ecosystem scale. From this synthesis, we introduce the concept of ecosystem competence defined as 'the propensity of an ecosystem to amplify or mitigate an incoming quantity of a given pathogen that can be ultimately transmitted to their definitive hosts'. Ecosystem competence integrates all mechanisms at the ecosystem scale underlying the transmission risk of a given pathogen and offers a promising measure for operationalizing the One-Health concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Douchet
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Benjamin Gourbal
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Eric S Loker
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Parasite Division - Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Olivier Rey
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France.
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12
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Levi T, Massey AL. Teasing apart the dilution effect by combining DNA metabarcoding and statistical modelling. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1814-1816. [PMID: 36846962 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Aimee L Massey
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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13
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da Silva BQ, Afonso MMDS, Freire LJM, de Santana ALF, Pereira-Colavite A, Rangel EF. Ecological Aspects of the Phlebotominae Fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) among Forest Fragments and Built Areas in an Endemic Area of American Visceral Leishmaniasis in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. INSECTS 2022; 13:1156. [PMID: 36555066 PMCID: PMC9784549 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sand flies are dipterans of medical importance, as some species are vectors of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL). The municipality of João Pessoa (Paraíba, northeastern Brazil), is an endemic region for AVL, having high rates of human and canine cases. The main objective was to evaluate the sand fly fauna among forest fragments and built areas, and its relationship with environmental conditions. HP light traps were placed in the studied areas from March 2019 to July 2021. A total of 2141 specimens of phlebotomines were captured, comprising nine genera and ten species. Temperature and humidity were significant and positive only in built areas. The diversity composition among forest fragments and built areas was different and the AVL vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, was the most prevalent species in built areas. The study showed that the built areas present differences in their richness and diversity of sand flies in relation to forest fragments, concluding that the conservation of forest areas, even if urban fragments, favors the diversity of phlebotomine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Queiroz da Silva
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância em Diptera e Hemmiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas José Macêdo Freire
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância em Diptera e Hemmiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Antônio Luís Ferreira de Santana
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância em Diptera e Hemmiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alessandre Pereira-Colavite
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa 58052-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância em Diptera e Hemmiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ-RJ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
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14
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Vourc'h G, Un K, Berthet E, Frey-Klett P, Le Masson P, Weil B, Lesens O. Design theory to better target public health priorities: An application to Lyme disease in France. Front Public Health 2022; 10:980086. [PMID: 36419992 PMCID: PMC9676681 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.980086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of complex public health challenges led by interdependent changes such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resistance to treatment, it is important to mobilize methods that guide us to generate innovative interventions in a context of uncertainty and unknown. Here, we mobilized the concept-knowledge (CK) design theory to identify innovative, cross-sectoral, and cross-disciplinary research and design programs that address the challenges posed by tick-borne Lyme disease in France, which is of growing importance in the French public health and healthcare systems. Within the CK methodological framework, we developed an iterative approach based on literature analysis, expert interviews, analysis of active French research projects, and work with CK experts to contribute to design "an action plan against Lyme disease." We produced a CK diagram that highlights innovative concepts that could be addressed in research projects. The outcome is discussed within four areas: (i) effectiveness; (ii) environmental sustainability in prevention actions; (iii) the promotion of constructive involvement of citizens in Lyme challenges; and (iv) the development of care protocols for chronic conditions with an unknown diagnosis. Altogether, our analysis questioned the health targets ranging from population to ecosystem, the citizen involvement, and the patient consideration. This means integrating social and ecological science, as well as the multidisciplinary medical patient journey, from the start. CK theory is a promising framework to assist public health professionals in designing programs for complex yet urgent contexts, where research and data collection are still not sufficient to provide clear guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenaël Vourc'h
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Université Clermont Auvergne, Saint Genès Champanelle, France,INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Université de Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Katherine Un
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Université Clermont Auvergne, Saint Genès Champanelle, France,INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Université de Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France,Centre de Gestion Scientifique, i3 UMR CNRS 9217, MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Elsa Berthet
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR SADAPT, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France,USC 1339, Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, INRAE, Villiers-en-Bois, France,UMR 7372 Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS, Univ. La Rochelle, Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France
| | | | - Pascal Le Masson
- Centre de Gestion Scientifique, i3 UMR CNRS 9217, MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Weil
- Centre de Gestion Scientifique, i3 UMR CNRS 9217, MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Lesens
- Université Clermont Auvergne UMR, CNRS 6023, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome Environnement (LMGE), Clermont-Ferrand, France,Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Centre de référence pour la prise en charge des infections ostéo-articulaires complexes (CRIOA), Centre de Référence pour les Maladies Vectorielles liées aux Tiques (CRMVT), 3IHP, CHU, Clermont-Ferrand, France,*Correspondence: Olivier Lesens
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de Oca-Aguilar ACM, Rebollar-Téllez EA, Sosa-Bibiano EI, López-Avila KB, Torres-Castro JR, Loría-Cervera EN. Effect of land use change on the phlebotomine sand fly assemblages in an emergent focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Yucatan, Mexico. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106628. [PMID: 35952923 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
As land use intensifies in tropical forests, it is expected that species assemblages will be modified and that key functions of these ecosystems will be affected. The latter scenario is important from a public health perspective, because the land use change has been linked the outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we evaluated the response of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) assemblages and their pattern of co-occurrence in four sites with different land use in an emerging cutaneous leishmaniasis focus in Yucatan, Mexico. Our hypothesis is that the conservation status (as forest cover) will positively influence the structure and composition of sand flies' assemblages. Using three different traps over a period of five months, a sampling effort of 1, 440 night-traps was performed. A total of 7, 897 sand fly specimens belonging to six genera and 10 species were collected. Our hypothesis was partially achieved since sand fly diversity increased as forest cover increased and vice versa, however random patterns of co-occurrence in assemblages were detected among sites. Even though the high abundance of sand flies in the forest fragment suggests an amplification effect, our results show that different vector species directly dominate in each site. We discuss the potential implications of the nestedness of species dominance. We suggest that in this emerging focus and under the land use gradient, Lutzomyia cruciata and Psathyromyia cratifer could play a pivotal role in maintaining the transmission cycles of Leishmania. The apparent generalist or colonialist profile of Lu. cruciata in disturbed areas deserves attention, due to the potential risk of leishmaniasis "domiciliation". This information is essential to understand the eco-epidemiology of leishmaniasis and the factors associated with its emergence in Yucatan, Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Montes de Oca-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - E A Rebollar-Téllez
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - E I Sosa-Bibiano
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - K B López-Avila
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - J R Torres-Castro
- Dirección de Prevención y Protección de la Salud de los Servicios de Salud del Estado de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E N Loría-Cervera
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
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Coutant O, Boissier O, Ducrettet M, Albert-Daviaud A, Bouiges A, Dracxler CM, Feer F, Mendoza I, Guilbert E, Forget PM. Roads Disrupt Frugivory and Seed Removal in Tropical Animal-Dispersed Plants in French Guiana. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.805376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological interactions are being affected at unprecedented rates by human activities in tropical forests. Yet, the continuity of ecological functions provided by animals, such as seed dispersal, is crucial for forest regeneration and species resilience to anthropogenic pressures. The construction of new roads in tropical forests is one of the main boosters of habitat destruction as it facilitates human access to previously isolated areas and increases defaunation and loss of ecological functions. It, therefore, becomes increasingly urgent to rapidly assess how recently opened roads and associated anthropogenic activities affect ecological processes in natural habitats, so that appropriate management measures to conserve diversity can be taken. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic pressures on the health status of a mature rainforest crossed by a newly opened road in French Guiana. For this, we combined different methods to conduct a rapid assessment of the forest’s health status. Firstly, we evaluated the activity of frugivores using camera traps deployed in four forest patches located near (<1 km) ecological corridors preserved as canopy bridges over the road during the fruiting periods of four animal-dispersed tree species. Secondly, we analyzed the fate of seeds enclosed in animal-dispersed tropical fruits by calculating the proportions of fruits consumed and seeds removed (either dispersed or predated) by frugivores. Results show that the proportion of fruits opened and consumed was lower in the forest areas located near the road than in the control forest, and this difference was more significant for plant species strictly dependent on large-bodied primates for seed dispersal than for species relying on both primates and birds. Camera traps showed the presence of small primates and kinkajous feeding on Virola fruits in the forest impacted by the road, where large primates were absent. It is thus likely that smaller frugivores exert a compensatory effect that maintains ecological functions near the road. Despite efforts made to preserve forest continuity through ecological corridors, anthropogenic pressures associated with road proximity are affecting wildlife and disrupting associated ecological functions crucial for plant regeneration, contributing to further forest degradation.
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