Modeling hantavirus reservoir species dominance in high seroprevalence areas on the Azuero Peninsula of Panama

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Jun;74(6):1103-10.

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation commonly influences distribution of zoonotic disease reservoirs. In Panama, populations of rodent hosts of hantaviruses are favored by small habitat fragments isolated by agricultural lands. We expected a similar relationship between landscape characteristics and host distribution at fine geographical scales in southern Panama. The relative abundance of Zygodontomys brevicauda, the primary host for "Calabazo" virus, and other rodents was assessed at 24 sites within the Azuero Peninsula. We used satellite imagery to produce several spatial variables that described landscape; however, only slope was consistently related to abundances of the two most dominant rodent species. Using regression, we constructed a spatial model of areas of Z. brevicauda dominance, which in turn relates to higher infection rates. The model predicts highest abundances of Z. brevicauda in flat areas, where humans also dominate. These predictions have important ecological and conservation implications that associate diversity loss, topography, and human land use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Disease Reservoirs* / virology
  • Environment
  • Geography / instrumentation
  • Geography / methods
  • Hantavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological*
  • Orthohantavirus*
  • Panama / epidemiology
  • Population Density
  • Rodentia / physiology*
  • Rodentia / virology
  • Satellite Communications
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sigmodontinae / physiology
  • Sigmodontinae / virology
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / virology