Oxidative stress biomarkers are associated with visible clinical signs of a disease in frigatebird nestlings

Infectious diseases are one of the most common threats for both domestic and wild animals, but little is known about the effects on the physiological condition and survival of wild animals. Here, we have tested for the first time in a wild vertebrate facing a viral disease possibly due to herpesvirus (i) whether nestlings with either low levels of oxidative damage or high levels of antioxidant protection are less susceptible to develop visible clinical signs, (ii) whether the disease is associated with the nestlings' oxidative status, (iii) whether the association between the disease and oxidative status is similar between males and females (iv), and whether cloacal and tracheal swabs might be used to detect herpesvirus. To address our questions, we took advantage of a population of Magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) whose nestlings have experienced high mortality rates in recent times. Our work shows that (i) blood lipid oxidative damage is associated with observable clinical signs and survival probabilities of nestling frigatebirds, and (ii) that high glutathione levels in red blood cells are associated with the emergence of visible clinical signs of the disease. Our work provides evidence that differences in the oxidative status of nestlings might underlie individual health and survival

Mayaro Virus in Wild Mammals, French Guiana

A serologic survey for Mayaro virus (Alphavirus, Togaviridae) in 28 wild nonflying forest mammal species in French Guiana showed a prevalence ranging from 0% to 52% and increasing with age. Species active during the day and those who spent time in trees were significantly more infected, results consistent with transmission implicating diurnal mosquitoes and continuous infectious pressure

Ecological niche modelling for predicting the risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Neotropical moist forest biome

A major challenge of eco-epidemiology is to determine which factors promote the transmission of infectious diseases and to establish risk maps that can be used by public health authorities. The geographic predictions resulting from ecological niche modelling have been widely used for modelling the future dispersion of vectors based on the occurrence records and the potential prevalence of the disease. The establishment of risk maps for disease systems with complex cycles such as cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) can be very challenging due to the many inference networks between large sets of host and vector species, with considerable heterogeneity in disease patterns in space and time. One novelty in the present study is the use of human CL cases to predict the risk of leishmaniasis occurrence in response to anthropogenic, climatic and environmental factors at two different scales, in the Neotropical moist forest biome (Amazonian basin and surrounding forest ecosystems) and in the surrounding region of French Guiana. With a consistent data set never used before and a conceptual and methodological framework for interpreting data cases, we obtained risk maps with high statistical support. The predominantly identified human CL risk areas are those where the human impact on the environment is significant, associated with less contributory climatic and ecological factors. For both models this study highlights the importance of considering the anthropogenic drivers for disease risk assessment in human, although CL is mainly linked to the sylvatic and peri-urban cycle in Meso and South America. © 2019 Chavy et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Phylogeography and demographic history of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis)

The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a medium-sized semiaquatic carnivore with a broad distribution in the Neotropical region. Despite being apparently common in many areas, it is one of the least known otters, and genetic studies on this species are scarce. Here, we have investigated its genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history across a large portion of its geographic range by analyzing 1471 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial DNA from 52 individuals. Our results indicate that L. longicaudis presents high levels of genetic diversity and a consistent phylogeographic pattern, suggesting the existence of at least 4 distinct evolutionary lineages in South America. The observed phylogeographic partitions are partially congruent with the subspecies classification previously proposed for this species. Coalescence-based analyses indicate that Neotropical otter mitochondrial DNA lineages have shared a rather recent common ancestor, approximately 0.5 Ma, and have subsequently diversified into the observed phylogroups. A consistent scenario of recent population expansion was identified in Eastern South America based on several complementary analyses of historical demography. The results obtained here provide novel insights on the evolutionary history of this largely unknown Neotropical mustelid and should be useful to design conservation and management policies on behalf of this species and its habitats. © The American Genetic Association. 2012. All rights reserved

Implication des singes amazoniens dans la circulation et l'évolution des arbovirus et herpesvirus

PARIS7-Bibliothèque centrale (751132105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Faune et activités humaines : exploitation forestière et chasse en Guyane française

Although the natural resources in French Guiana are generally well preserved, rapid growth in the human population increasingly threatens their sustainability in many areas. A few studies have been conducted on the effects of timber harvesting on wildlife in French Guiana and others are in progress. In contrast, the effects of hunting have not been quantified, and the few existing hunting regulations are rarely complied with and poorly enforced. Despite evidence of increased scarcity of game species, no wildlife management policy has yet been implemented. This article describes the effects of timber harvesting and hunting on wildlife, as well as the hunting behaviors and legislation in French Guiana. Based on findings in other Latin American countries and on personal observations made over many years spent in French Guiana, the authors make recommendations for the formulation of an effective conservation policy.Bien que les ressources naturelles soient encore largement préservées en Guyane, l'augmentation rapide de la pression démographique menace de plus en plus leur pérennité. Un nombre limité de travaux sur les impacts de l'exploitation forestière a été effectué en Guyane et de nouvelles études sont en cours. En revanche, aucune étude n'a permis d'évaluer l'impact de la chasse. Les dispositions légales sont peu respectées, et malgré des signes évidents de raréfaction de la faune, aucune politique de gestion n'existe encore. Les effets de l'exploitation forestière et de la chasse sur les grandes espèces sont présentés dans cet article, puis, sur la base des résultats obtenus dans d'autres pays d'Amérique du Sud et d'observations personnelles effectuées au cours de nombreuses années de présence en Guyane, quelques suggestions sont faites dans l'optique de l'élaboration d'une politique de conservation.de Thoisy Benoît, Vié Jean-Christophe. Faune et activités humaines : exploitation forestière et chasse en Guyane française. In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquée, 40ᵉ année, bulletin n°1-2,1998. Conserver, gérer la biodiversité : quelle stratégie pour la Guyane ? sous la direction de Marie Fleury et Odile Poncy. pp. 103-120

Olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea in French Guiana: back from the brink of regional extirpation?

Short CommunicationsInternational audienceThe estimated number of olive ridley marine turtles Lepidochelys olivacea nesting annually in 2002–2007 in French Guiana was 1,716–3,257, the highest ever recorded in the country and similar to nesting numbers recorded in neighbouring Suriname c. 40 years ago, where the species has now severely declined. A shift of nesting females from Suriname to French Guiana beaches and improvement of nationwide marine turtle monitoring appear to be the most plausible explanations for the current high level of nesting recorded in French Guiana. The species' nesting status in French Guiana therefore appears less critical than previously documented but ongoing threats suggest the need to reinforce regional conservation efforts in the West Atlantic

Enjeux de la gestion des espèces exotiques envahissantes dans les milieux d'eau douce en outre-mer

Les milieux aquatiques d’eau douce en outre-mer ne sont pas épargnés par les espèces exotiques envahissantes. Ces espèces ont des impacts négatifs, avérés ou potentiels, importants. Diverses actions sont mises en œuvre tant sur le plan national que local pour mieux les gérer, mais de nombreux défis restent encore à relever

Bilan des espèces exotiques envahissantes en milieux aquatiques sur le territoire français : bilan synthétique pour l'outre-mer

Les nombreuses espèces exotiques envahissantes présentes dans les territoires français d’outre-mer représentent une menace potentielle ou déjà manifeste pour les écosystèmes et les espèces particulièrement vulnérables qu'ils abritent. Cet article présente un état des lieux de la situation et quelques chiffres clés