@article{RoyoHernández:62336,
author = "Royo Hernández, Lara and Lucientes Curdi, Javier and Ruiz
Fons, Jose Francisco",
title = "{Estudio del efecto del control biológico del topillo
común (Microtus arvalis) en la circulación de patógenos
zoonóticos.}",
year = "2017",
note = "Common vole populations (Microtus arvalis) in Europe and
Spain have experienced a demographic explosion in the last
30 years due to anthropogenic changes in the environment.
This situation has brought up negative socio-economic and
sanitary impacts. The biological control of these rodent
plagues has been proposed as an alternative measure to the
use of rodenticides that can negatively affect other
species, particularly predators of voles. It is possible
that acting in favour of predators presence would account
in the control of the circulation of pathogens associated
with these rodents and thereby protect, in a more
environmentally sustainable way, the health of people and
animals. In 2009, 300 nest boxes were installed in three
study areas in Castilla y León (NW, Spain) with the
intention of favouring the settlement of common kestrel
(Falco tinnunculus) and barn owl (Tyto alba) populations.
During 2012 and 2014 common vole samples were taken (n=521)
from these three study areas, and Coxiella burnetii
infection was analysed by real time PCR in spleen (n=503)
and adipose tissue (n=18) samples. The effect of factors
such as habitat, individual characteristics, predation or
the density of voles on the risk of infection by C.
burnetii were studied. Results showed that infected voles'
preying probability is higher if we compare it with the
average prevalence of infection in the population, which
could indicate that the biological control based on
generalist predators is a valuable tool for pathogen
control. Statistically significant differences were
observed between sexes, being the probability of infection
higher in males than in females, probably associated to
behavioural differences. Statistically significant
differences in prevalence were observed in the three study
areas, too. However, no effects of vole density on the risk
of C. burnetii infection were observed.",
}