title: Daily Movements and Microhabitat Selection of Hantavirus Reservoirs and Other Sigmodontinae Rodent Species that Inhabit a Protected Natural Area of Argentina.
abstract: Abundance, distribution, movement patterns, and habitat selection of a reservoir species influence the dispersal of zoonotic pathogens, and hence, the risk for humans. Movements and microhabitat use of rodent species, and their potential role in the transmission of hantavirus were studied in Otamendi Natural Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Movement estimators and qualitative characteristics of rodent paths were determined by means of a spool and line device method. Sampling was conducted during November and December 2011, and March, April, June, October, and December 2012. Forty-six Oxymycterus rufus, 41 Akodon azarae, 10 Scapteromys aquaticus and 5 Oligoryzomys flavescens were captured. Movement patterns and distances varied according to sex, habitat type, reproductive season, and body size among species. O. flavescens, reservoir of the etiologic agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the region, moved short distances, had the most linear paths and did not share paths with other species. A. azarae had an intermediate linearity index, its movements were longer in the highland grassland than in the lowland marsh and the salty grassland, and larger individuals traveled longer distances. O. rufus had the most tortuous paths and the males moved more during the non-breeding season. S. aquaticus movements were associated with habitat type with longer distances traveled in the lowland marsh than in the salty grassland. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in 20% of A. azarae and were not detected in any other species. Seropositive individuals were captured during the breeding season and 85% of them were males. A. azarae moved randomly and shared paths with all the other species, which could promote hantavirus spillover events.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICyTTP), CONICET, Dr. Matteri y España, s/n, E3105BWA, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
authors.forename: Malena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maroli
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Vadell
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ayelén
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. C. G. Malbrán", Av.Velez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Paula Julieta
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. isabelgv@ege.fcen.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Isabel Elisa
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Gómez Villafañe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D049628:Body Size; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000821:virology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000821:virology*
keywords: habitat use; hantavirus; movements; protected natural areas; rodents; spool and line