Evidence of Zika Virus Infection in Pigs and Mosquitoes, Mexico.

Evidence suggests that pigs seroconvert after experimental exposure to Zika virus and are potential sentinels. We demonstrate that pigs are also susceptible to natural Zika virus infection, shown by the presence of antibodies in domestic pigs in Yucatan, Mexico. Zika virus RNA was detected in 5 species of mosquitoes collected inside pigpens.

Wildlife rehabilitation centers as a potential source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 into native wildlife of Latin America.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world, causing a great number of mortality of humans and affecting the economy, while conservation efforts are finally recognized to prevent further pandemics. The wildlife rehabilitation centers (WRCs) play a relevant role in animal welfare; nevertheless, they also represent an imminent risk of pathogen transmission between humans-to-animals and between animals. Moreover, WRCs could spread pathogens into natural habitats through the reintroduction of infectious individuals. These biosafety concerns at WRCs may increase as the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 extends. We explored the current situation of Latin American WRCs under the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 introduction, amplification, and spread within these institutions. We surveyed WRCs from eight Latin American countries. We found that pandemic is affecting these institutions in many aspects: workers with symptoms compatible with COVID-19, reduced economic resources, and lack of information and support from governmental authorities. These have forced WRCs to reduce the workforce, veterinary visits, and animal food rations and to increase the number of animals released. This scenario generates a risky environment for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially for felids, mustelids, and non-human primates. Therefore, it is imperative to respect quarantine periods, monitor incoming patients, increase biosecurity measures, develop and apply guidelines and recommendations for the protection of personnel and biosafety of enclosures and instruments. It is of utmost importance the proper and safer reintroduction of recovered wildlife.

La pandemia de COVID­19 ha impactado mundialmente, provocando una alta mortalidad en humanos y afectando la economía, resaltando la importancia de los esfuerzos de conservación para prevenir nuevas pandemias. Los centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre juegan un papel relevante en el bienestar animal, sin embargo, también representan un riesgo inminente de transmisión de patógenos entre humanos a animales y entre animales. Además, los centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre podrían propagar patógenos a hábitats naturales mediante la reintroducción de individuos infecciosos. Estas preocupaciones de bioseguridad en centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre pueden aumentar a medida que se extiende el impacto económico y social del COVID­19. Exploramos la situación actual de centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre latinoamericanos durante la pandemia de COVID­19 para determinar la viabilidad de la introducción, amplificación y propagación del SARS­CoV­2 dentro de estas instituciones. Encuestamos centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre de ocho países latinoamericanos y encontramos que la pandemia está afectando a estas instituciones en muchos aspectos: trabajadores con síntomas compatibles con COVID­19, recursos económicos reducidos y falta de información y apoyo de las autoridades gubernamentales. Estos han obligado a centros de rehabilitación de vida silvestre a reducir la mano de obra, las visitas veterinarias y las raciones de alimentos para animales, así como aumentar el número de animales liberados. Este escenario genera un entorno de riesgo para la transmisión del SARS­CoV­2, especialmente para félidos, mustélidos y primates no humanos. Por lo tanto, es imperativo respetar los períodos de cuarentena, monitorear a los pacientes que ingresan, incrementar las medidas de bioseguridad, desarrollar y aplicar lineamientos y recomendaciones para la protección del personal y la bioseguridad. Es de suma importancia la reintroducción adecuada y segura de la vida silvestre recuperada.

Was the COVID-19 pandemic avoidable? A call for a "solution-oriented" approach in pathogen evolutionary ecology to prevent future outbreaks.

Concerns about the prospect of a global pandemic have been triggered many times during the last two decades. These have been realised through the current COVID-19 pandemic, due to a new coronavirus SARS-CoV2, which has impacted almost every country on Earth. Here, we show how considering the pandemic through the lenses of the evolutionary ecology of pathogens can help better understand the root causes and devise solutions to prevent the emergence of future pandemics. We call for better integration of these approaches into transdisciplinary research and invite scientists working on the evolutionary ecology of pathogens to contribute to a more "solution-oriented" agenda with practical applications, emulating similar movements in the field of economics in recent decades.

Rickettsia parkeri in Dermacentor parumapertus Ticks, Mexico.

During a study to identify zoonotic pathogens in northwestern Mexico, we detected the presence of a rickettsial agent in Dermacentor parumapertus ticks from black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus). Comparison of 4 gene sequences (gltA, htrA, ompA, and ompB) of this agent showed 99%-100% identity with sequences of Rickettsia parkeri.

Macroecology of birds potentially susceptible to West Nile virus.

Zoonotic diseases transmitted by wildlife affect biological conservation, public and animal health, and the economy. Current research efforts are aimed at finding wildlife pathogens at a given location. However, a meta-analytical approach may reveal emerging macroecological patterns in the host-pathogen relationship at different temporal and spatial scales. West Nile virus (WNV) is a pathogen with worldwide detrimental impacts on bird populations. To understand macroecological patterns driving WNV infection, we aimed to recognize unknown competent reservoirs using three disease metrics-serological prevalence (SP), molecular prevalence (MP) and mortality (M)-and test if these metrics are correlated with the evolutionary history, geographical origin of bird species, viral strain, time-space and methodology. We performed a quantitative review of field studies on birds sampled for WNV. We obtained 4945 observations of 949 species from 39 countries. Our analysis supported the idea that MP and M are good predictors of reservoir competence, and allowed us to identify potential competent reservoirs. Furthermore, results indicated that the variability of these metrics was attributable to phylogeny, time-space and sample size. A macroecological approach is needed to recognize susceptible species and competent reservoirs, and to identify other factors driving zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife.

Molecular Survey of Bartonella Species and Yersinia pestis in Rodent Fleas (Siphonaptera) From Chihuahua, Mexico.

Rodent fleas from northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for the presence of Bartonella and Yersinia pestis. In total, 760 fleas belonging to 10 species were tested with multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis targeting the gltA (338-bp) and pla genes (478-bp) of Bartonella and Y. pestis, respectively. Although none was positive for Y. pestis, 307 fleas were infected with Bartonella spp., resulting in an overall prevalence of 40.4%. A logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of Bartonella is more likely to occur in some flea species. From a subset of Bartonella-positive fleas, phylogenetic analyses of gltA gene sequences revealed 13 genetic variants clustering in five phylogroups (I­V), two of which were matched with known pathogenic Bartonella species (Bartonella vinsonii subsp. arupensis and Bartonella washoensis) and two that were not related with any previously described species or subspecies of Bartonella. Variants in phylogroup V, which were mainly obtained from Meringis spp. fleas, were identical to those reported recently in their specific rodent hosts (Dipodomys spp.) in the same region, suggesting that kangaroo rats and their fleas harbor other Bartonella species not reported previously. Considering the Bartonella prevalence and the flea genotypes associated with known pathogenic Bartonella species, we suggest that analysis of rodent and flea communities in the region should continue for their potential implications for human health. Given that nearby locations in the United States have reported Y. pestis in wild animals and their fleas, we suggest conducting larger-scale studies to increase our knowledge of this bacterium.

Bats are a major natural reservoir for hepaciviruses and pegiviruses.

Although there are over 1,150 bat species worldwide, the diversity of viruses harbored by bats has only recently come into focus as a result of expanded wildlife surveillance. Such surveys are of importance in determining the potential for novel viruses to emerge in humans, and for optimal management of bats and their habitats. To enhance our knowledge of the viral diversity present in bats, we initially surveyed 415 sera from African and Central American bats. Unbiased high-throughput sequencing revealed the presence of a highly diverse group of bat-derived viruses related to hepaciviruses and pegiviruses within the family Flaviridae. Subsequent PCR screening of 1,258 bat specimens collected worldwide indicated the presence of these viruses also in North America and Asia. A total of 83 bat-derived viruses were identified, representing an infection rate of nearly 5%. Evolutionary analyses revealed that all known hepaciviruses and pegiviruses, including those previously documented in humans and other primates, fall within the phylogenetic diversity of the bat-derived viruses described here. The prevalence, unprecedented viral biodiversity, phylogenetic divergence, and worldwide distribution of the bat-derived viruses suggest that bats are a major and ancient natural reservoir for both hepaciviruses and pegiviruses and provide insights into the evolutionary history of hepatitis C virus and the human GB viruses.

Effect of host species diversity on multiparasite systems in rodent communities.

Reduced species diversity has been suggested to increase transmission rates and prevalence of infectious diseases. While this theory has been studied mostly in single pathogen systems, little is known regarding multiple pathogens systems in vertebrates at the community level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of host richness and diversity on multiple parasite systems on a local scale. We captured small rodents and collected feces in three different vegetation types in a natural protected area in Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. The flotation technique was used to identify parasite eggs or oocysts. Analysis of linear correlations was conducted between parasite prevalence and host and parasite diversity and richness. Negative correlation was detected between parasite prevalence and host diversity (p = 0.02 r(2) =-0.86), but no significant correlations was detected between parasite prevalence and host richness or parasite diversity or richness. Our study shows that at local scale, host diversity could affect multiple parasite systems in the same way that single pathogens do. Further studies should be performed on larger temporal and spatial scales to more thoroughly investigate the correlation observed in our analysis.

Prediction of edapho-climatic parameters in the incidence of Campylobacter spp. in northwestern Mexico.

Campylobacter spp. is one of the main causes of enteric zoonotic infections worldwide. In Mexico, although a commonly detected pathogen in both children and adults, there is limited surveillance and few studies. The northern part of Mexico stands out for an unnoticed outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni due to contaminated drinking water, which caused an abrupt increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome in the local population. Although it is suggested that its distribution in nature is related to edaphic and climatic factors, this relationship is scarcely known. To understand abiotic factors driving the occurrence and prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in three municipalities from three states in northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California), we used the kriging interpolation method of unsampled areas and the correspondence analysis of 23 environmental variables. Of the three municipalities evaluated, Janos in Chihuahua (CHIH), has the highest number of geographic areas classified as high and medium incidence, followed by Santa Cruz, Sonora (SON) and Mexicali, Baja California (BC). Mexicali (BC) edaphic variables limit the potential incidence of the bacterium, mainly due to the lack of soil moisture and its difficulty of surviving on dry surfaces, related to electrical conductivity and salinity. Janos (CHIH) presents limitations in terms of soil water availability, although its presence is more heterogeneous (2 to 8 months). Santa Cruz (SON) has the highest soil water availability (4 to 5 months), and presents pH, texture and low percentage of salinity conditions for the potential incidence of Campylobacter spp. Mexicali (BC) reports a temperature in the warmest month of up to 43°C, which could influence the presence of thermophilic species. The annual precipitation is another limiting factor for the potential incidence of Campylobacter spp. since it does not exceed 509.5 mm, contributing to Janos (CHIH) as the municipality with the highest potential incidence of this bacterium.

Prevalence and transmission of the most relevant zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens in the Yucatan peninsula: A review.

BACKGROUND: Habitat modification and land use changes impact ecological interactions and alter the relationships between humans and nature. Mexico has experienced significant landscape modifications at the local and regional scales, with negative effects on forest cover and biological biodiversity, especially in the Yucatan peninsula in southeastern Mexico. Given the close relationship between landscape modification and the transmission of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, it is essential to develop criteria for identifying priority zoonoses in the south of the country. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We reviewed 165 published studies on zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in the region (2015-2024). We identified the most frequent vectors, reservoirs, and hosts, the most prevalent infections, and the factors associated with transmission risk and the anthropogenic landscape modification in urban, rural, ecotone, and sylvatic habitats. The most relevant pathogens of zoonotic risk included Trypanosoma cruzi, arboviruses, Leishmania, Rickettsia, Leptospira, and Toxoplasma gondii. Trypanosoma cruzi was the vector-borne agent with the largest number of infected vertebrate species across habitats, while Leishmania and arboviruses were the ones that affected the greatest number of people. Dogs, cats, backyard animals, and their hematophagous ectoparasites are the most likely species maintaining the transmission cycles in human settlements, while rodents, opossums, bats, and other synanthropic animals facilitate connection and transmission cycles between forested habitats with human-modified landscapes. Pathogens displayed different prevalences between the landscapes, T. cruzi, arbovirus, and Leptospira infections were the most prevalent in urban and rural settlements, whereas Leishmania and Rickettsia had similar prevalence across habitats, likely due to the diversity and abundance of the infected vectors involved. The prevalence of T. gondii and Leptospira spp. may reflect poor hygiene conditions. Additionally, results suggest that prevalence of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases is higher in deforested areas and agricultural aggregates, and in sites with precarious health and infrastructure services. CONCLUSIONS: Some hosts, vectors, and transmission trends of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in the YP are well known but others remain poorly recognized. It is imperative to reinforce practices aimed at increasing the knowledge, monitoring, prevention, and control of these diseases at the regional level. We also emphasize the need to perform studies on a larger spatio-temporal scale under the socio-ecosystem perspective, to better elucidate the interactions between pathogens, hosts, vectors, environment, and sociocultural and economic aspects in this and many other tropical regions.

Association between anthropization and rodent reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens in Northwestern Mexico.

The world is facing a major pulse of ecological and social changes that may favor the risk of zoonotic outbreaks. Such risk facilitation may occur through the modification of the host's community diversity and structure, leading to an increase in pathogen reservoirs and the contact rate between these reservoirs and humans. Here, we examined whether anthropization alters the relative abundance and richness of zoonotic reservoir and non-reservoir rodents in three Socio-Ecological Systems. We hypothesized that anthropization increases the relative abundance and richness of rodent reservoirs while decreasing non-reservoir species. We first developed an Anthropization index based on 15 quantitative socio-ecological variables classified into five groups: 1) Vegetation type, 2) Urbanization degree, 3) Water quality, 4) Potential contaminant sources, and 5) Others. We then monitored rodent communities in three regions of Northwestern Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora). A total of 683 rodents of 14 genera and 27 species were captured, nine of which have been identified as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens (359 individuals, 53%). In all regions, we found that as anthropization increased, the relative abundance of reservoir rodents increased; in contrast, the relative abundance of non-reservoir rodents decreased. In Sonora, reservoir richness increased with increasing anthropization, while in Baja California and Chihuahua non-reservoir richness decreased as anthropization increased. We also found a significant positive relationship between the anthropization degree and the abundance of house mice (Mus musculus) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), the most abundant reservoir species in the study. These findings support the hypothesis that reservoir species of zoonotic pathogens increase their abundance in disturbed environments, which may increase the risk of pathogen exposure to humans, while anthropization creates an environmental filtering that promotes the local extinction of non-reservoir species.

First Record of the Tribe Orthopodomyiini in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Updating the mosquito fauna occurring in a specific area is crucial, given that certain species serve as vectors capable of transmitting zoonotic arboviruses. This scientific note presents the first records of mosquitoes of the tribe Orthopodomyiini in the Yucatan Peninsula. Immature mosquitoes were collected on 2 occasions inside a large tree hole in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Thirteen adult specimens, reared from the immatures, were obtained and identified as Orthopodomyia kummi based on external characteristics of females and males. This species has been recorded in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and marginally in the United States, but its presence in the Yucatan Peninsula had gone unnoticed until now. The knowledge about mosquitoes of the genus Orthopodomyia is limited, and their epidemiological importance remains uncertain. Therefore, further studies could provide insights into the ecological and infection dynamics associated with this species.

Risk of a vector-borne endemic zoonosis for wildlife: Hosts, large-scale geography, and diversity of vector-host interactions for Trypanosoma cruzi.

Drivers for wildlife infection are multiple and complex, particularly for vector-borne diseases. Here, we studied the role of host competence, geographic area provenance, and diversity of vector-host interactions as drivers of wild mammal infection risk to Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. We performed a systematic sampling of wild mammals in 11 states of Mexico, from 2017 to 2018. We tested the positivity of T. cruzi with the Tc24 marker in tissues samples for 61 wild mammal species (524 specimens sampled). 26 mammal species were positive for T. cruzi, of which 11 are new hosts recorded in Mexico 75 specimens were positive and 449 were negative for T. cruzi infection, yielding an overall prevalence of 14.3%. The standardized infection risk of T. cruzi of our examined specimens was similar, no matter the host species or their geographic origins. Additionally, we used published data of mammal positives for T. cruzi to complement records of T. cruzi infection in wild mammals and inferred a trophic network of Triatoma spp. (vectors) and wild mammal species in Mexico, using spatial data-mining modelling. Infection with T. cruzi was not homogeneously distributed in the inferred trophic network. This information allowed us to develop a predictive model for T. cruzi infection risk for wild mammals in Mexico, considering risk as a function of the diversity of vector-host spatial associations in a large-scale geographic context, finding that the addition of competent vectors to a multi-host parasite system amplifies host infection risk. The diversity of vector-host interactions per se constitutes a relevant driver of infection risk because hosts and vectors are not isolated from each other.

The mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula: a comprehensive review on the use of taxonomic names.

The Yucatan Peninsula is a biogeographic province of the Neotropical region which is mostly encompassed by the 3 Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. During the development of the International Joint Laboratory ELDORADO (Ecosystem, bioLogical Diversity, habitat mOdifications and Risk of emerging PAthogens and Diseases in MexicO), a French-Mexican collaboration between the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) and UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) in Mérida, it became evident that many putative mosquito species names recorded in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula were misidentifications/misinterpretations or from the uncritical repetition of incorrect literature records. To provide a stronger foundation for future studies, the mosquito fauna of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula is here comprehensively reviewed using current knowledge of taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of species through extensive bibliographic research, and examination of newly collected specimens. As a result, 90 mosquito species classified among 16 genera and 24 subgenera are recognized to occur in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula, including 1 new peninsula record and 3 new state records.

Influenza A virus antibodies in dogs, hunting dogs, and backyard pigs in Campeche, Mexico.

AIMS: This study aimed to identify exposure to human, swine, and avian influenza A virus subtypes in rural companion and hunting dogs, backyard pigs, and feral pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study took place in a region of southeastern Mexico where the sampled individuals were part of backyard production systems in which different domestic and wild species coexist and interact with humans. We collected blood samples from pigs and dogs at each of the sites. We used a nucleoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the exposure of individuals to influenza A virus. Haemagglutination inhibition was performed on the positive samples to determine the subtypes to which they were exposed. For data analysis, a binomial logistic regression model was generated to determine the predictor variables for the seropositivity of the individuals in the study. We identified 11 positive individuals: three backyard pigs, four companion dogs, and four hunting dogs. The pigs tested positive for H1N1 and H1N2. The dogs were positive for H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. The model showed that dogs in contact with backyard chickens are more likely to be seropositive for influenza A viruses. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the essential role hunting dogs could play as intermediate hosts and potential mixing vessel hosts when exposed to human and swine-origin viral subtypes. These results are relevant because these dogs interact with domestic hosts and humans in backyard systems, which are risk scenarios in the transmission of influenza A viruses. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to implement epidemiological surveillance of influenza A viruses in backyard animals, particularly in key animals in the transmission of these viruses, such as dogs and pigs.

Network Analysis of Hosts and Vectors in the Multiple Transmissions of Flavivirus.

Background: It is well established that infection patterns in nature can be driven by host, vector, and symbiont communities. One of the first stages in understanding how these complex systems have influenced the incidence of vector-borne diseases is to recognize what are the major vertebrate (i.e., hosts) and invertebrate (i.e., vectors) host species that propagate those microbes. Such identification opens the possibility to identify such essential species to develop targeted preventive efforts. Methods: The goal of this study, which relies on a compilation of a global database based on published literature, is to identify relevant host species in the global transmission of mosquito-borne flaviviruses, such as West Nile virus, St. Louis virus, Dengue virus, and Zika virus, which pose a concern to animal and public health. Results: The analysis of the resulting database involving 1174 vertebrate host species and 46 reported vector species allowed us to establish association networks between these species. Three host species (Mus musculus, Sapajus flavius, Sapajus libidinosus, etc.) have a much larger centrality values, suggesting that they play a key role in flavivirus community interactions. Conclusion: The methods used and the species detected as relevant in the network provide new knowledge and consistency that could aid health officials in rethinking prevention and control strategies with a focus on viral communities and their interactions. Other infectious diseases that harm animal and human health could benefit from such network techniques.

Assessing the risk of West Nile Virus seasonal outbreaks and its vector control in an urbanizing bird community: An integrative R0-modelling study in the city of Merida, Mexico.

Urbanization is a global trend associated with key socio-economic issues, one of them being to control the transmission of infectious diseases to a urban fraction of the world's population that shall reach 68% in 2050. While urban growth has been shown to favor mosquito species responsible for the transmission of the West Nile Virus (WNV), a major human arbovirosis, the effects of concomitant changes in the host bird communities remain hard to anticipate albeit essential to quantify disease risk and to plan control initiatives. We developed a R0 modelling of WNV transmission in a urban bird community to assess the risk of outbreak in Merida, one of the cities with the highest growth rate in Mexico. The model was parameterized using ecological and epidemiological data collected over the past 15-years on the local vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, and avian community. We identified a 3-weeks summer period during which the vector population strongly amplifies the WNV enzootic transmission and lead to a significant risk of outbreaks in humans. Extensive sensitivity analyses showed that urbanization induced changes in the bird community could lead to an up-to 6-fold increase in the duration of the risk period, while the daily risk could rise by 40%. Interestingly, the increase in Quiscalus mexicanus abundance had 4-5 times larger impact than any other change in the bird community. In such a context, annihilating the current and future risk of WNV outbreaks in Merida requires reducing the mosquito population by 13% and up to 56%, respectively. This study provides an integrative assessment of the current and future risks of WNV outbreak in the fast urbanizing city of Merida, and points toward the implementation of epidemiological monitoring combined with preemptive measures targeting both C. quinquefasciatus and Q. mexicanus populations, as they are expected to have synergistic effects.

POTENTIAL SHARED DISEASE RISK AMONG DOGS AND COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS) EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ECOLOGY OF RICKETTSIOSIS IN A ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER-EPIDEMIC REGION IN NORTHERN MEXICO.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is a re-emerging tick-borne zoonosis in North America, with hundreds of human fatalities in multiple outbreaks in northern Mexico and the southwestern US in the past few decades. Free-roaming dogs are key because they are reservoirs for the pathogen and the main hosts of the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), which vectors RMSF in this region. Because coyotes (Canis latrans) can be infected with R. rickettsii and infested with Rh. sanguineus, we hypothesized that space sharing among dogs and coyotes could enhance disease risks. In summer 2021, we captured and sampled 11 coyotes at two sites in Baja California, Mexico, near population centers with human cases of RMSF, and fitted seven individuals with GPS logging collars. We also tested tissue samples, sera, and ectoparasites for DNA of R. rickettsii with PCR and used serology to detect antibodies to R. rickettsii. Finally, we deployed an array of cameras to document dog-coyote interactions. Mean home range size was 40.37 km2. Both GPS and camera data showed considerable home range overlap both between individual coyotes and between coyotes and dogs. Coyotes were active in areas where dogs occur including the domestic interface surrounding human settlements. Although none of our samples were positive for R. rickettsii on PCR, 72.7% (8/11) of the samples were seropositive with titers ≥64. Our data confirm shared space use and risk of shared parasites and disease between coyotes and dogs.

Interaction of Human Behavioral Factors Shapes the Transmission of Arboviruses by Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes.

Arboviruses, i.e., viruses transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods, trigger significant global epidemics. Over the past 20 years, the frequency of the (re-)emergence of these pathogens, particularly those transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, has dramatically increased. Therefore, understanding how human behavior is modulating population exposure to these viruses is of particular importance. This synthesis explores human behavioral factors driving human exposure to arboviruses, focusing on household surroundings, socio-economic status, human activities, and demographic factors. Household surroundings, such as the lack of water access, greatly influence the risk of arbovirus exposure by promoting mosquito breeding in stagnant water bodies. Socio-economic status, such as low income or low education, is correlated to an increased incidence of arboviral infections and exposure. Human activities, particularly those practiced outdoors, as well as geographical proximity to livestock rearing or crop cultivation, inadvertently provide favorable breeding environments for mosquito species, escalating the risk of virus exposure. However, the effects of demographic factors like age and gender can vary widely through space and time. While climate and environmental factors crucially impact vector development and viral replication, household surroundings, socio-economic status, human activities, and demographic factors are key drivers of arbovirus exposure. This article highlights that human behavior creates a complex interplay of factors influencing the risk of mosquito-borne virus exposure, operating at different temporal and spatial scales. To increase awareness among human populations, we must improve our understanding of these complex factors.

Trophic behavior of inorganic elements in nesting sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, and Caretta caretta) in Quintana Roo: Biomagnification and biodilution effect in blood and scute tissues.

The biomagnification and biodilution of inorganic pollutants, have a close correlation on the structure and function of trophic change behavior; sea turtles represent an excellent bioindicator model to identify their impact in marine ecosystems. To understand pollution effects on marine ecosystems, we quantified the bioconcentration of 50 inorganic elements in the blood and scute tissues of three nesting species of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta caretta), collected in Quintana Roo State from July 2017 to August 2018. As a general trend, essential mineral elements with toxic potential showed the highest concentrations in both tissues; significant increase concentration of arsenic, mercury, and cerium levels was observed with increasing trophic levels indicating its biomagnification while a significant decrease in manganese and bismuth showed a biodilution effect. We expect that our findings can be used as baseline data in future biomonitoring and contamination risk assessment programs in the region.