Home range variability, spatial aggregation and excursions of Akodon azarae and Oligoryzomys flavescens in Pampean agroecosystems

GOROSITO, I.L; BENÍTEZ, A. M; BUSCH M

Integrative Zoology

Wiley Online Library

Año: 2020

Rodents are reservoirs of various types of hantavirus, some of which are agents of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in humans. Each hantavirus is associated with a single rodent host species but successive spill-over events may eventually lead to host-switching and new species? becoming host of a given pathogen. This study aims to gain an understanding of the spatial ecology of two Akodon azarae, and Oligoryzomys flavescens, by identifying factors modulating their home range sizes and stability, and by evaluating intra- and interspecific spatial aggregation for these species and a third one Oxymycterus rufus living in sympatry. For this,eleven capture-mark-recapture surveys were carried out, spanning 22 months. A. azarae males have larger and more mobile home ranges than females,independently of the season. Consequently, males could likely have a more relevant role in the transmission of hantavirus because of their greater exposure both to a higher number of contact between individuals and viral contamination of the environment. Contrasting, O. flavescens individuals showed negligible displacements of their home range through time, which could limit the range of hantavirus spread in host populations. Since O. flavescens is host to Lechiguanas hantavirus (pathogenic to humans) this result encompasses epidemiological relevance, for it may imply the existence of local foci of infection. Additionally, individuals of both species performed excursions outside their home ranges. These events, could enable hantavirus spread over distancesbeyond the normal range of movements and lead to new hantavirus outbreaks in formerly non infected rodent populations, favoring the persistence of the virus in nature.