“Living on the edge” : the role of field margins for common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations in recently colonised Mediterranean farmland

Acknowledgments RRP was supported by a PhD-studentship from the University of Valladolid (co-funded by Banco Santander, RR 30/04/2014). Financial support was provided by ECOCYCLES (BIODIVERSA 2008, Era-net European project, EUI2008-03658 and NERC NE/G002045/1 to XL) and ECOVOLE projects (CGL2012-35348; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain). The article also contributes to project ECOTULA (CGL2015-66962-C2-1-R). We held all the necessary licenses and permits for conducting this work (JJLL, FM and RRP held animal experimentation permits of level B for Spain, and a capture permit was provided by the Consejería de Fomento y Medio Ambiente, Junta de Castilla y León (Expte: EP/CYL/665/2014)). We thank two anonymous reviewers for providing and constructive comments to improve the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Ecology of rodent outbreaks and zoonotic diseases: common voles in the farmland of northwest spain

Las poblaciones naturales inestables del topillo campesino (Microtus arvalis) en Castilla y León han sido estudiadas con la intención de entender su impacto en los hábitats agrarios cuando se producen grandes explosiones demográficas. En particular: (i) cómo ocurre la dinámica de "contracción-expansión" del uso del hábitat por el topillo campesino en el medio agrícola para analizar sus patrones de uso del espacio, (ii) el papel que tienen estas poblaciones en los procesos de amplificación y propagación de enfermedades zoonóticas de riesgo para los seres humanos, y (iii) la dinámica y la naturaleza de las interacciones ecológicas entre hospedadores irruptivos (topillo campesino) y sus vectores parásitos (pulgas), así como su papel en los ciclos de transmisión de microparásitos zoonóticos. La combinación de enfoques epidemiológico y ecológico tiene la intención de aportar nuevos conocimientos en el control del topillo campesino, en la gestión de las explosiones demográficas y en la prevención de enfermedadesDepartamento de Ciencias AgroforestalesDoctorado en Conservación y Uso Sostenible de Sistemas Forestale

LA ENFERMEDAD DE LYME

La enfermedad de Lyme (EL) o Borreliosis de Lyme es una enfermedad bacteriana zoonótica producida por la espiroqueta Borrellia burgdorferi sensu lato, y transmitida por diferentes especies de garrapatas duras. Es una patología emergente en Europa incluida desde 2018 en la lista de enfermedades sujetas a vigilancia epidemiológica del Centro Europeo para la Prevención y Control de Enfermedades (ECDC). En España, está catalogada como Enfermedad de Declaración Obligatoria de vigilancia endémica regional desde 2015, según la Orden SSI/445/2015. Desde el 2005, se ha visto un aumento notable en el número de casos (pasando de 2,64 casos por cada 100.000 habitantes a 11,61 casos, con mayor incidencia en hombres mayores de 65 años) y en la carga hospitalaria (con un incremento del 191,8%) en todas las regiones de España. Se estima que el aumento de la incidencia de EL en España es de 0,28 casos/100.000 habitantes/año. Este aumento está relacionado con una modificación en el patrón de la distribución de las garrapatas, ya que se está registrando su presencia en nuevas zonas geográficas donde anteriormente no estaban presente. En este trabajo se han revisado los estudios que ligan el incremento de la prevalencia de la EL con el cambio climático. Estudios epidemiológicos apuntan a que el cambio climático está afectando a la triada ambiente-hospedador-patógeno/vector. Este factor podría inducir a una mayor presencia del vector a lo largo del año, un mayor número de hospedadores y reservorios disponibles para la propagación y el mantenimiento de los patógenos. Todos estos aspectos podrían estar provocando una mayor infección y contagio en personas y en animales. Las zoonosis suponen un problema de salud a nivel global. En este sentido, predecir el peligro de las enfermedades transmitidas por vectores es particularmente desafiante, debido a que requieren estudios a largo plazo basados en un enfoque multidisciplinario dentro del marco de Una-Sola-Salud (“One-Health”), así como mejorar el conocimiento clínico de la enfermedad, su diagnóstico, y su tratamiento. para frenar este crecimiento.<br /

Density-Dependent Prevalence of Francisella tularensis in Fluctuating Vole Populations, Northwestern Spain

Self Archiving; https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/page/copyright-and-disclaimers J.J.L.L., F.M., and R.R.P. held official licenses for trapping wildlife in Spain. Capture permits were provided by the Dirección General del Medio Natural, Junta de Castilla y León. This study was supported by projects ECOVOLE (grant CGL2012-35348), ECOTULA (grant CGL2015-66962-C2-1-R), and RESERTULA (grant CLG2015-66962-C2-2-R), which were funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MINECO/FEDER, Spain. R.R.P. was supported by a PhD studentship from the University of Valladolid (co-funded by Banco Santander).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

High diversity, novel genotypes, and vertical transmission of hemotropic Mycoplasma in micromammals

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are emerging zoonotic pathogens. Micromammals have received little attention as hosts for hemoplasmas despite their ubiquitous presence, high population abundances, and close association with humans. A PCR protocol targeting a fragment of the 16 S rRNA gene and direct sequencing in blood samples of 189 adult specimens and 35 fetuses belonging to three species of Eulipotyphla (shrews) and seven species of Rodentia, captured in three ecologically diverse habitats in North-Eastern Spain (Steppe, High Mountain, Mediterranean) yielded and occurrence of 26%, including 36% of 39 shrews and 23% of 150 rodents. Sequencing revealed the presence of 14 nucleotide sequence types (ntST) among the 56 readable sequences. In general, each ntST was associated with a given host species, although in some cases, the same ntST was sequenced in different species (chiefly rodents). Most ntST were closely related to rodent and/or bat hemoplasmas, but one was identical with Mycoplasma haemocanis/haemofelis, and others can be considered novel genotypes. High sequence diversity was detected in rodents, whereas in the white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula), 9/11 sequences from two distant areas were identical. Phylogenetic and network analyses classified our sequences in different clades including hemoplasmas of rodents, carnivores, bats, and humans. Twelve of the fetuses (34.2%) of 9/12 litters (75.0%) of shrews and rodents were hemoplasma-positive, indicating frequent vertical transmission. Our study contributes to expanding our knowledge about the distribution, diversity, and transmission of hemoplasmas

Sperm competition in fluctuating populations of common voles in southern Europe: reversed relationship between relative testes size and density

Resumen de la comunicación presentada en: 7th European Congress of Mammalogy - Stockholm (Sweden), August 17–21 2015Investment in sperm numbers is a key predictor of success in sperm competition and there is usually a positive relationship between sperm competition level and male reproductive effort on ejaculates, which is often measured using relative testes size (RTS). Demographic processes can drasti- cally alter levels of sperm competition and we should expect males to respond to increasing competition risk (RTS increase with density). Here we investigate whether RTS of common voles respond to fluctuations in population density. We evaluated variation of RTS depending on current and recent densities of con- specifics, also taking into account the condition of individual males (fat levels and parasite loads). Contrary to our prediction and in line with recent findings reporting ambiguous results among other vole species, we found a reversed relationship between RTS and density. Our data show that demographic factors can strongly affect RTS and we discuss possible mechanisms to explain these findings.Peer reviewe

De la Geometría Descriptiva a la Geometría Arquitectónica: aportaciones de autores clásicos al nuevo paradigma

The use of computation for architectural design, together with the application of digital fabrication techniques for materialisation, has brought a new paradigm where contributions by classic authors linked to Descriptive Geometry might seem inappropriate. This paper shows a case study of a full-scale prototype which proves how some of the classic geometric theorems and procedures can still play a role in the design computation era. Objectives: identify and analyse the usefulness of classic Descriptive Geometry contents within the computational design paradigm through the case study of a particular project. Methodology: Analysis of the conception, development and materialization processes, to identify the application and potential benefits of classic geometric contents. Results: at the different stages analysed, some classic geometric theorems and procedures were found to be useful and efficient. Practical implications: The implications of these findings involve both architectural practice and the academic sphere. Originality / value: Although initially bound to this case study, the methodology could be extrapolated to more complex projects to obtain more simple and efficient design algorithms.El uso de la computación en el diseño arquitectónico, junto con la aplicación de técnicas de fabricación digital para la materialización, ha traído un nuevo paradigma donde las aportaciones de los autores clásicos vinculados a la Geometría Descriptiva podrían parecer inadecuadas. Esta comunicación muestra un estudio de caso sobre un prototipo a escala natural que demuestra cómo algunos de los teoremas y trazados clásicos aún pueden tener un papel en la era de la computación. Objetivos: analizar la utilidad de contenidos de la Geometría Descriptiva clásica dentro del paradigma del diseño computacional a través del estudio de caso de un proyecto concreto. Metodología: Análisis de los procesos de concepción, desarrollo y materialización, para identificar la aplicación y beneficios potenciales de contenidos geométricos clásicos. Resultados: en las diferentes etapas analizadas, algunos procedimientos y teoremas geométricos clásicos resultaron ser útiles y eficientes. Repercusiones prácticas: Las repercusiones de los resultados obtenidos atañen tanto a la profesión arquitectónica como al ámbito académico. Originalidad / Valor: La metodología usada en este estudio de caso, podría extrapolarse a proyectos más complejos para obtener algoritmos de diseño más simples y eficiente

Patterns of flea infestation in rodents and insectivores from intensified agro-ecosystems, Northwest Spain.

Background: Fleas frequently infest small mammals and play important vectoring roles in the epidemiology of (re)emerging zoonotic disease. Rodent outbreaks in intensified agro-ecosystems of North-West Spain have been recently linked to periodic zoonotic diseases spillover to local human populations. Obtaining qualitative and quantitative information about the composition and structure of the whole flea and small mammal host coexisting communities is paramount to understand disease transmission cycles and to elucidate the disease-vectoring role of flea species. The aims of this research were to: (i) characterise and quantify the flea community parasiting a small mammal guild in intensive farmlands in North-West Spain; (ii) determine and evaluate patterns of co-infection and the variables that may influence parasitological parameters. Methods: We conducted a large-scale survey stratified by season and habitat of fleas parasitizing the small mammal host guild. We report on the prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance of flea species parasitizing Microtus arvalis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus and Crocidura russula. We also report on aggregation patterns (variance-to-mean ratio and discrepancy index) and co-infection of hosts by different flea species (Fager index) and used generalized linear mixed models to study flea parameter variation according to season, habitat and host sex. Results: Three flea species dominated the system: Ctenophthalmus apertus gilcolladoi, Leptopsylla taschenbergi and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. Results showed a high aggregation pattern of fleas in all hosts. All host species in the guild shared C. a. gilcolladoi and N. fasciatus, but L. taschenbergi mainly parasitized mice (M. spretus and A. sylvaticus). We found significant male-biased infestation patterns in mice, seasonal variations in flea abundances for all rodent hosts (M. arvalis, M. spretus and A. sylvaticus), and relatively lower infestation values for voles inhabiting alfalfas. Simultaneous co-infections occurred in a third of all hosts, and N. fasciatus was the most common flea co-infecting small mammal hosts. Conclusions: The generalist N. fasciatus and C. a. gilcolladoi dominated the flea community, and a high percentage of co-infections with both species occurred within the small mammal guild. Nosopsyllus fasciatus may show higher competence of inter-specific transmission, and future research should unravel its role in the circulation of rodent-borne zoonoses

CRISPR/Cas9 as a tool to correct point mutations in a recombinant monoclonal antibody gene in the genome of CHO cells

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