| TAZ-TFG-2017-1406 |
Estudio del efecto del control biológico del topillo común (Microtus arvalis) en la circulación de patógenos zoonóticos.
Royo Hernández, Lara
Lucientes Curdi, Javier (dir.) ; Ruiz Fons, Jose Francisco (dir.)
Universidad de Zaragoza,
VET,
2017
Patología Animal department, Sanidad Animal area
Graduado en Veterinaria
Tipo de Trabajo Académico: Trabajo Fin de Grado
Notas: 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.
Notas: 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.
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trabajos-academicos-universidad-zaragoza > centro > facultad-de-veterinaria
trabajos-academicos-universidad-zaragoza > trabajos-fin-grado