Resumen (Introducción): Los humedales someros son relevantes para las aves acuáticas, actualmente son afectados por el cambio climático y las actividades humanas, esto se ha relacionado con brotes de botulismo aviar. (Objetivo): Identificar cambios bióticos y fisicoquímicos en los humedales que podrían propiciar brotes de botulismo. Identificar fuentes de nutrientes que contribuyen a un estado eutrófico. (Metodología): Evaluación de características bioticas (diversidad de zooplancton y macroinvertebrados) y fisicoquímicas (oxígeno disuelto, temperatura, solidos disueltos totales y transparencia) en 3 humedales (Trancas, Coyote y Silva) del centro de México. Identificación de la fuente de nutrientes mediante un análisis isotópico (δ13C y δ15N) de los organismos acuáticos. (Resultados): Después de la época de lluvias hubo una disminución en la diversidad de zooplancton e invertebrados, así como disminución del nivel y transparencia del agua en los sitios estudiados. Los valores de oxígeno disuelto, temperatura y sólidos disueltos totales fueron diferentes en los 3 sitios. Los valores de los isótopos estables de carbono (δ13C) y nitrógeno (δ15N) de los organismos de Silva y Coyote, coinciden con valores de aguas negras, fertilizantes, maíz y trigo. (Conclusión): Los humedales estudiados registraron cambios bióticos y fisicoquímicos a lo largo del periodo de estudio. En Silva y Coyote las fluctuaciones en el nivel del agua, las actividades humanas y la llegada de miles de aves acuáticas migratorias provocan una acumulación de materia orgánica en descomposición y nutrientes que vuelven a estos sitios eutróficos y propensos a tener brotes recurrentes de botulismo aviar.

Abstract (Introduction): Shallow wetlands are relevant for waterfowl; they are currently affected by climatic changes and nutrients derived from agriculture. This has been associated with outbreaks of avian botulism. (Objective): Identify changes in wetlands that can lead to botulism outbreaks, as well as identify the source of nutrients that may contribute to an eutrophic state. (Methodology): Evaluation of biotic characteristics (diversity of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates) and physicochemical characteristics (dissolved oxygen, temperature, total dissolved solids and transparency) in 3 shallow wetlands (Silva, Coyote and Trancas) in central Mexico, as well as evaluation of values of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) from organisms, in order to detect the input of nutrients to the aquatic ecosystem. (Results): There was a decrease in zooplankton and invertebrate diversity as well as a decrease in water level and transparency at all 3 sites. The values of dissolved oxygen, temperature and total dissolved solids were different in the 3 sites. Values of stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes from Silva and Coyote organisms coincide with values of stable isotopes found in sewage, fertilizers and grains such as corn and wheat. (Conclusion): Wetlands in the study site registered biotic and physicochemical changes along the year. In Silva and Coyote water fluctuations, human activities and finally the arrive of thousands of migratory birds, produce an accumulation of dead organic matter and nutrients that made the system eutrophic and therefore more prone to present recurrent avian botulism outbreaks.

Abstract Humankind is currently facing the effects of an unparalleled pandemic that has impacted healthcare, social, and economic systems worldwide. Numerous studies have been published since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak began in Wuhan, China. Most have focused on virology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic medicine, having been centered by reactive strategies to control the pandemic. Meanwhile, publications addressing the ecological, evolutionary, and anthropogenic drivers of virus emergence, and potential strategies to prevent future outbreaks have been sparse. Here, we highlight the necessity of complementary and transdisciplinary insight and methodologies from an integrated perspective to study emergent diseases. It is paramount to situate the consistently associated factors to understand the complexity of the current pandemic. Disease ecology can examine information to recognize the causes of emergence while appraising the role of interactions among pathogens, domestic animals, wildlife, and humans, integratively. Here we draw on a variety of disciplines and perspectives, from evolutionary biology, biogeography, ecology, molecular epidemiology and integrative health, to address the emergence of coronaviruses, with particular emphasis on SARS-CoV-2. We describe the process of the surfacing of zoonotic diseases, highlighting the interactions among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, as well as the genetic, evolutionary, ecological, and anthropogenic processes that favor coronavirus epidemics and epizootics. We discuss specific results related to corona virus investigations conducted in Mexico based on disease ecology methodologies. Finally, we describe alternative approaches for understanding and preventing future outbreaks and we suggest strategies to entice integrative and transdisciplinary research within the One Health/Ecohealth paradigm.

ABSTRACT: The influence of the anthropogenic transformation of the landscape by livestock activities on the composition and specificity of ectoparasite communities associated with bats was evaluated in livestock productions of the state of Veracruz. Sites with different levels of landscape transformation were compared, including productions under grazing systems in fallow land, silvopasture, and grassland. A total of 944 bats of 23 species were captured in eight livestock production units. The taxonomic identification of 1 433 ectoparasites of 35 species obtained from 428 hosts was carried out. Analyses of taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic specificity were performed between the bat-ectoparasite associations. The composition of the ectoparasite communities associated with Artibeus jamaicensis showed significant differences between the three levels of landscape transformation. The acahual (fallow land), which is the landscape with the least anthropogenic transformation, presented the highest values of diversity of bat species and ectoparasites. The phylospecificity of the streblid bat flies did not show significant changes between the different types of landscape in the study. The consideration of anthropogenic factors that affect the richness, abundance and diversity of the ectoparasites, as well as the phylogenetic relationship with their hosts, is essential to achieve an in-depth study of host-parasite associations.

RESUMEN: Se evaluó la influencia de la transformación antropogénica del paisaje por actividades pecuarias sobre la composición y especificidad de las comunidades de ectoparásitos asociadas a murciélagos, en ranchos ganaderos del estado de Veracruz. Se compararon sitios con diferente nivel de transformación del paisaje que incluyeron producciones bajo sistemas de pastoreo en acahual, silvopastoril y pastizal. Se capturaron 944 murciélagos de 23 especies en ocho unidades de producción pecuaria. Se realizó la identificación taxonómica de 1 433 ectoparásitos de 35 especies obtenidos a partir de 428 hospederos. Se realizaron análisis de diversidad taxonómica y especificidad filogenética entre las asociaciones murciélago-ectoparásito. La composición de las comunidades de ectoparásitos asociadas con Artibeus jamaicensis mostró diferencias significativas entre los tres niveles de transformación del paisaje. El acahual, que es el paisaje con menor transformación antropogénica, presentó los valores más altos de diversidad de especies de murciélagos y de ectoparásitos. La filoespecificidad de los estréblidos no presentó cambios significativos entre los diferentes tipos de paisaje del estudio. La consideración de factores antropogénicos que afecten la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de los ectoparásitos, así como la relación filogenética con sus hospederos es esencial para profundizar en el estudio de las asociaciones hospedero-parásito.

Abstract: The aim of this research was to detect rabies virus in peripheral tissues in captive vampires. Vampire bats were inoculated with 106 MICLD50 of homologous rabies virus. Bats displayed clinical signs of rabies beginning on d 8 until the 19th d post-inoculation (pi). Rabies virus antigens were found in the brain of all rabid bats. Viral RNA was detected in brain, salivary gland and tongue tissue by RT-PCR and nested PCR (nPCR). Viral genome was also detected in organs unrelated to the central nervous system. Rabies virus was not detected in saliva nor documented from any tissues without occurrence of viral antigens in the brain. Host humoral response was most pronounced via the induction of viral neutralizing antibodies (VNA) from d 8 to 20 pi, having a peak at d 14 with 0.9 IU. Antibody levels were variable, but tended to remain high after inoculation, showing significant differences to the negative control group (P=0.001). This research is one of the few recent studies focused upon Desmodus rotundus and contributes to the basic knowledge of rabies virus pathogenesis, which is required for an understanding of perpetuation in a major viral reservoir in Latin America.

Resumen: El objetivo de esta investigación fue detectar el virus de la rabia en tejidos periféricos en vampiros en cautiverio. Los vampiros se inocularon con 106 MICLD50 de un virus de rabia homólogo. Los murciélagos mostraron signos clínicos de la enfermedad desde el día 8 hasta el día 19 postinoculación (pi). Los antígenos del virus de la rabia fueron encontrados en el cerebro de todos los murciélagos infectados. El ARN viral fue detectado en cerebro, glándulas salivales y lengua por RT-PCR y PCR anidado (nPCR). El genoma viral fue también detectado en órganos no relacionados con el sistema nervioso central. El virus de la rabia no se detectó en la saliva ni se documentó en ningún tejido sin la presencia de antígenos virales en el cerebro. La respuesta humoral fue más pronunciada después de la inducción de anticuerpos neutralizantes virales (VNA) desde el día 8 a 20 pi, teniendo un pico en el día 14 con 0.9 UI. Los niveles de anticuerpos fueron variables, con tendencia a permanecer altos después de la inoculación, mostrando diferencias significativas con el grupo control negativo (P= 0.001). Esta investigación es uno de los pocos estudios recientes enfocados en Desmodus rotundus que contribuye al conocimiento básico de la patogénesis del virus de la rabia, que es necesaria para comprender la perpetuación en un importante reservorio viral en América Latina.

Abstract Recently, the United-Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals for the 2030 Agenda. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 “Ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being for all ages” is one of the most transversal goals, which is interconnected with the other SDGs. The health and well-being are the aim of this goal and also, they are the result of other goals that empower people to develop better in different social, economic and productive areas. The SDG 3 is a multiple and universal resource on which sustainable development policies can be based, in particular for the most needed countries, and can lead to the sustainable maintenance of well-being and health. However, SDG 3 faces a high sectorization, so there is a risk of not being able to achieve the stated objectives. Only a national and international reflection on human population and animal health surveillance devices, environmental health, implementation of appropriate indicators and specific research funding will ensure the balance between the legitimacy of society’s demands and the needs of scientific and medical excellence. The health and well-being indicators that are needed to achieve the agenda goals are based on reliable and relevant quantitative data, which are currently rare or even non-existent in some regions. Therefore, it is now necessary to initiate a more integrative international animal and public health and research strategy in order to collect new data, particularly those relating to current emerging infectious diseases that affect public and animal health, especially in developing countries.

Abstract Climate change may modify the spatial distribution of reservoirs hosting emerging and reemerging zoonotic pathogens, and forecasting these changes is essential for developing prevention and adaptation strategies. The most important reservoir of bovine paralytic rabies in tropical countries, is the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). In Mexico, the cattle industry loses more than $2.6 million US dollar, annually to this infectious disease. Therefore, we predicted the change in the distribution of D. rotundus due to future climate change scenarios, and examined the likely effect that the change in its distribution will have on paralytic rabies infections in Mexico. We used the correlative maximum entropy based model algorithm to predict the potential distribution of D. rotundus. Consistent with the literature, our results showed that temperature was the variable most highly associated with the current distribution of vampire bats. The highest concentration of bovine rabies was in Central and Southeastern Mexico, regions that also have high cattle population densities. Furthermore, our climatic envelope models predicted that by 2050-2070, D. rotundus will lose 20 % of its current distribution while the northern and central regions of Mexico will become suitable habitats for D. rotundus. Together, our study provides an advanced notice of the likely change in spatial patterns of D. rotundus and bovine paralytic rabies, and presents an important tool for strengthening the National Epidemiological Surveillance System and Monitoring programmes, useful for establishing holistic, long-term strategies to control this disease in Mexico.

Using integrative epidemiologic techniques, we studied the changing relationships (beta and phylogenetic beta diversity) of multihost systems and virus associations in bat communities in fragmented landscapes from Chiapas, Campeche and Greater Mexico City. We combined computing applications, molecular detection, and nucleotide sequencing of coronaviruses, hantaviruses, paramyxoviruses and pegiviruses with ecological and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 22 viruses were discovered in 1,067 samples from 42 bat species, representing an estimated 78% of all viral richness in the system. Based on 17 virus genotypes discovered with an equal sampling effort, a total viral richness of 23 genotypes was estimated using a Chao2 statistic model. Using a residual model, we categorized host species and habitat types that are prone to harboring higher viral richness. Positive relationships were found between phylogenetic host diversity and both viral diversity (r = 0.41, p < 0.05) and viral richness (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). The beta diversity (the rate of change) of viral communities was explained by host beta diversity (r = 0.86, p < 0.05). To understand the change in viral and host communities, we partitioned beta diversity in nestedness (species loss) and turnover (compositional dissimilarity) components. In Chiapas, the host beta diversity was explained by the nestedness of species composition, while the phylogenetic host diversity was explained by turnover of the host lineages. Campeche showed a high phylogenetic host nestedness and low host turnover. Beta-diversity and beta-phylogenetic diversity indicated that patterns of local species assemblages and regional abiotic features in human-dominated landscapes are significant drivers of viral community composition. Our study represents the first effort in Mexico to study the relationship between viral diversity in bat communities in modified landscapes to understand host-virus relationships.

Mediante análisis epidemiológicos integrales, se estudiaron la diversidad beta (entre sitios) y la beta filogenética de sistemas multi-hospederos, así como los virus asociados con comunidades de murciélagos en paisajes fragmentados de Chiapas, Campeche y la zona metropolitana de la Ciudad de México. Se combinaron aplicaciones computacionales, técnicas de detección molecular y la secuenciación de nucleótidos de coronavirus, hantavirus, paramyxovirus y pegivirus con análisis ecológicos y filogenéticos. Se descubrieron un total de 22 virus en 1 067 muestras pertenecientes a 42 especies de murciélagos, lo que representa una estimación de 78% de la riqueza viral total. Al aplicar el modelo estadístico Chao2 con datos de los 17 genotipos de virus encontrados con el mismo esfuerzo de muestreo, se calculó una riqueza viral de 23 genotipos. Usando un modelo con residuales, se categorizó a las especies hospederas y los tipos de hábitat que tienen mayor riesgo de asociarse con una mayor riqueza viral. Se encontró una relación positiva entre la diversidad filogenética de los hospederos y la diversidad viral (r = 0.41, P < 0.05) y con la riqueza viral (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). La diversidad beta (tasa de recambio) de las comunidades de virus se explicó por la diversidad beta de los hospederos (r = 0.86, P < 0.05). Para entender los patrones de cambio en las comunidades virales y de hospederos, la diversidad beta se dividió en: un componente de anidamiento -pérdida de especies- y uno de recambio -disimilitud en la composición-. En Chiapas, la diversidad beta de los hospederos se justificó por la anidación de especies, mientras que la diversidad beta filogenética se definió por el recambio de linaje de los hospederos. Campeche mostró altos valores de anidamiento filogenético y bajo recambio de hospederos. La diversidad beta y la diversidad beta filogenética indicaron que los patrones locales de la estructura de las comunidades de hospederos y las características abióticas regionales en paisajes dominados por actividades antropogénicas son un factor importante en la determinación de la composición de comunidades virales. Este estudio representa el primer esfuerzo en México para entender las relaciones hospedero-virus, a través del estudio de las relaciones entre la diversidad viral y las comunidades de murciélagos en paisajes transformados.

Aunque Costa Rica ha sido biológicamente bien estudiada, pocas áreas tiene inventarios de mamíferos completos y actualizados,lo que es para llevar a cabo estudios ecológicos y de conservación. La región de San Vito es considerada entre las mas importantes para la investigación científica en el país, debido a la presencia del Jardín Botánico Wilson y la Estación Biológica Las Cruces. Sin embargo, el conocimiento de la mastofauna es incompleto. Por lo tanto se evaluó intensamente los mamíferos de San Vito, y se compiló una lista de especies, con una evaluación de su composición, abundancia relativa, distribución en los habitats, y su estado de conservación. Se registraron 105 especies, que representaron a 85 géneros, 29 familias y 10 órdenes. Los mamíferos no voladores representaron 62 especies, 59 géneros, 23 familias y 9 órdenes. Los murciélagos pertenecieron a 6 familias, 26 géneros y 43 especies. La extensa deforestación y cacería son factores que han causado la extinción local de 7especies, pero la región todavía mantiene un número relativamente alto de su diversidad original, incluyendo a especie raras. Pocas especies fueron comunes o abundantes. La riqueza de especies fue alta en el bosque y los fragmentos de bosque, y más baja en las plantaciones de café, pastizales inducidos y vegetación secundaria. Alrededor del 21% (13) de las espcies estan incluidad en el libro rojo de la UICN. Tres especies (Saimiri oerstedii, Tapirus bairdii y Sylvilagus dicei ) son consideradas en peligro y dos (Myrmecophaga trydactila y Caluromys derbianus ) como amenazadas:de estas, dos especies (T. bairdii and M. trydactila ) se encuentran localmente extintas. Las otras especies son consideradas de bajo riesgo (i. e. Chironectes minimus) o con poca información (i. e. Lontra longicaudis ). Adicionalmente, 24 especies (39%) están incluidas en CITES.

Diversity, natural history and conservation of mammals from San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica. Although Costa Rica has been biologically well studied,few areas have complete mammal inventories, which are essential for ecological studies and conservation. The San Vito region is considered among the most important for scientific research in the country because of the presence of the Wilson Botanical Garden and Las Cruces. However, the knowledge of its mammalian fauna is incomplete. We extensively studied the mammals of San Vito, compiled a checklist, and evaluated its composition, relative abundance, habitat distribution, and conservation status. We recorded 105 species, representing 85 genera, 29 families, and 10 orders. Non-volant mammals represented 62 species, 59 genera, 23 families, and 9 orders. Bats belonged to 6 families, 26 genera and 43 species. The extensive deforestation and hunting have caused the extinction of seven species, but the region still supports, surprisingly, a relatively high number of species, most of which are rare. Few species are common and abundant. Species richness was higher in forest, and forest fragments; fewer species were found in coffee plantations,induced grasslands, and secondary vegetation. Around 21% (13 species) are included in the IUCN red book. Three species are considered endangered (Saimiri oerstedii, Tapirus bairdii, and Sylvilagus dicei), and two threatened (Myrmecophaga trydactila and Caluromys derbianus), of which two (T. bairdii and M. trydactila) are locally extinct. The other species in IUCN are either of low risk (i. e. Chironectes minimus ) or data deficient (Lontra longicaudis). Additionally, 24 species (39%) are included in CITES. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54(1): 219-240. Epub 2006 Mar 31.