Papers by Constanza Napolitano
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2015
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two of the most common v... more Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two of the most common viruses affecting domestic cats (Felis catus). During the last two decades, reports show that both viruses also infect or affect other species of the family Felidae. Human landscape perturbation is one of the main causes of emerging diseases in wild animals, facilitating contact and transmission of pathogens between domestic and wild animals. We investigated FIV and FeLV infection in free-ranging guignas (Leopardus guigna) and sympatric domestic cats in human perturbed landscapes on Chiloé Island, Chile. Samples from 78 domestic cats and 15 guignas were collected from 2008 to 2010 and analyzed by PCR amplification and sequencing. Two guignas and two domestic cats were positive for FIV; three guignas and 26 domestic cats were positive for FeLV. The high percentage of nucleotide identity of FIV and FeLV sequences from both species suggests possible interspecies transmission of viruses, facilitated by increased contact probability through human invasion into natural habitats, fragmentation of guigna habitat, and poultry attacks by guignas. This study enhances our knowledge on the transmission of pathogens from domestic to wild animals in the global scenario of human landscape perturbation and emerging diseases.
Journal of Threatened Taxa, Apr 26, 2018
Contrasting human perceptions of and attitudes towards two threatened small carnivores, Lycalopex... more Contrasting human perceptions of and attitudes towards two threatened small carnivores, Lycalopex fulvipes and Leopardus guigna, in rural communities adjacent to protected areas in Chile.
Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports
Chile is a large country with a marked range of climate conditions that make it an ideal scenario... more Chile is a large country with a marked range of climate conditions that make it an ideal scenario for the study of vector-borne parasites (VBPs); however, knowledge about their distribution is limited to a few confined areas of this country. The presence of Hepatozoon spp., piroplasmids, Leishmania spp. and filarioids was investigated through molecular and serological methods in blood and serum samples of 764 free-ranging rural dogs, 154 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 91 South American grey foxes (Lycalopex griseus) from six bioclimatic regions across Chile. Hepatozoon spp. DNA was exclusively detected in foxes (43% prevalence), including sequences closely related to Hepatozoon felis (24.1%; only Andean foxes), Hepatozoon americanum (16.2%; only grey foxes), and Hepatozoon canis (1.25%; in one grey fox). Risk factor assessment identified a higher probability of Hepatozoon infection in juvenile foxes. DNA of piroplasmids was detected in 0.7% of dogs (Babesia vogeli) but in no fox, whilst antibodies against Babesia sp. were detected in 24% of the dogs and 25% of the foxes, suggesting a wider circulation of canine piroplasmids than previously believed. A positive association between the presence of antibodies against Babesia and high Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato burden was observed in dogs. Leishmania spp. DNA and antibodies were detected in 0.8% and 4.4% of the dogs, respectively. Acanthocheilonema reconditum was the only blood nematode detected (1.5% of the dogs and no fox). Differences in prevalence among bioregions were observed for some of the VBPs. These results expand our knowledge about the occurrence of vector-borne parasites in Chile, some of which are firstly reported herein. This information will facilitate the
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2022
Antibodies against Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetii, investigated throu... more Antibodies against Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetii, investigated through indirect antibody immunofluorescence tests, were detected in serum samples from 3.1% and 0% of 358 rural dogs, respectively, and in none of 32 wild foxes tested. SFG Rickettsia seropositive dogs were only detected in the Mountain Desert (8%) and the Steppe-Mediterranean (9%) regions. Exposure in the Mountain Desert, where no ticks and fleas were found on any dog, could correspond to a new SFG Rickettsia sp. recently described in soft ticks or to a related agent. Our survey confirms low endemicity in the country of C. burnetii, as observed in recent serosurveys in humans.
Scientific Reports, 2019
The co-occurrence of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and wild felids in rural landscapes c... more The co-occurrence of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and wild felids in rural landscapes can facilitate pathogen transmission. However, in the relatively-isolated regions of southern South America there have been no comprehensive studies to assess disease transmission risks between domestic cats and forest-dwelling wild felids such as guigna (Leopardus guigna). We evaluated hemoplasma infection and the possibility of transmission between domestic cats and guignas by comparing spatial and phylogenetic patterns of pathogen prevalence. Blood/spleen samples were collected from 102 wild guignas and 262 co-occurring rural domestic cats across the entire distribution range of guigna in Chile. Hemoplasma infection was assessed by direct sequencing of the 16S RNA gene. Infection with hemoplasmas was common and geographically widespread across different bioclimatic areas for both species. The most common feline Mycoplasma species in guigna and domestic cats were Candidatus M. haemominu...
Science of The Total Environment
Conservation
Natural habitats in South America have been intensively used and modified, including their conver... more Natural habitats in South America have been intensively used and modified, including their conversion to exotic tree plantations, impacting the terrestrial fauna communities. Carnivores play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems as apex predators. Landscape characteristics and resource availability determine the composition and abundance of co-occurring carnivores. We hypothesized that the diversity and relative abundance of native carnivores varied in relation to the different vegetation macrohabitats. We predicted that native forests support a higher diversity and abundance of native carnivores compared to exotic plantations. Between 1 March 2021 and 31 March 2022, we estimated the species’ richness, composition, and relative abundance of terrestrial native carnivores in three different landscapes of the Coast Range in central Chile: (a) monoculture plantation of the exotic Pinus radiata (MP); (b) Mediterranean coastal thorn forest (TF); and (c) Mediterranean coastal ...
Scientific Reports, Aug 26, 2022
We describe a new taxon of terrestrial bird of the genus Aphrastura (rayaditos) inhabiting the Di... more We describe a new taxon of terrestrial bird of the genus Aphrastura (rayaditos) inhabiting the Diego Ramírez Archipelago, the southernmost point of the American continent. This archipelago is geographically isolated and lacks terrestrial mammalian predators as well as woody plants, providing a contrasted habitat to the forests inhabited by the other two Aphrastura spp. Individuals of Diego Ramírez differ morphologically from Aphrastura spinicauda, the taxonomic group they were originally attributed to, by their larger beaks, longer tarsi, shorter tails, and larger body mass. These birds move at shorter distances from ground level, and instead of nesting in cavities in trees, they breed in cavities in the ground, reflecting different life-histories. Both taxa are genetically differentiated based on mitochondrial and autosomal markers, with no evidence of current gene flow. Although further research is required to define how far divergence has proceeded along the speciation continuum, we propose A. subantarctica as a new taxonomic unit, given its unique morphological, genetic, and behavioral attributes in a non-forested habitat. The discovery of this endemic passerine highlights the need to monitor and conserve this still-pristine archipelago devoid of exotic species, which is now protected by the recently created Diego Ramírez Islands-Drake Passage Marine Park. The genus Aphrastura (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) is endemic to southwestern South America and includes two allopatric species: the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (A. spinicauda) that inhabits the temperate forest biome of South America 1 , and the Masafuera Rayadito (A. masafuerae) whose distribution is limited to the misty tree fern forests of the oceanic Alejandro Selkirk Island 2,3. This island has an area of only 85 km 2 and is part of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, separated from the continent by 670 km. Unlike A. masafuerae, A. spinicauda has a broad distribution along the entire latitudinal range of the South American temperate forests' biome 4. It inhabits deciduous and evergreen forest types ranging from north-central Chile to the extreme south of Chile
The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2022
Abstract: The Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered carnivores worl... more Abstract: The Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered carnivores worldwide, with the risk of disease spillover from domestic dogs being a major conservation threat. However, lack of epidemiologic information about generalist, non–dog-transmission-dependent protozoal and bacterial pathogens may be a barrier for disease prevention and management. To determine the exposure of some of these agents in Darwin's fox populations, 54 serum samples were collected from 47 Darwin's foxes in Southern Chile during 2013–18 and assessed for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, Brucella canis, Coxiella burnetii, pathogenic Leptospira (serovars Grippotyphosa, Pomona, Canicola, Hardjo, and Copehageni), Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum. The highest seroprevalence was detected for T. gondii (78%), followed by pathogenic Leptospira (14%). All the studied Leptospira serovars were confirmed in at least one animal. Two foxes seroconverted to Leptosp...
Ecology and Evolution, Mar 25, 2020
We present comments on an article recently published in Ecology and Evolution ("High-resolution m... more We present comments on an article recently published in Ecology and Evolution ("High-resolution melting of the cytochrome B gene in fecal DNA: A powerful approach for fox species identification of the Lycalopex genus in Chile") by Anabalon et al. that reported the presence of Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes), a temperate forest specialist, in the
Boletín Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
El nombre de la especie de paseriforme Aphrastura subantarctica, propuesto por Rozzi et al. (2022... more El nombre de la especie de paseriforme Aphrastura subantarctica, propuesto por Rozzi et al. (2022), no está disponible, dado que la publicación donde el mismo fue propuesto no cumplió con todos los requisitos del Código Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoológica. En esta nota establecemos la disponibilidad del nombre de la especie Aphrastura subantarctica, cumpliendo esos requisitos.
Animals, Mar 3, 2022
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The sequence data file is provided as a ZIP archive containing 3 subfolders, one for each of the ... more The sequence data file is provided as a ZIP archive containing 3 subfolders, one for each of the three analyzed species (i.e. Lco - Leopardus colocolo; Lge - Leopardus geoffroyi ; Lgu - Leopardus guigna). For each of these species the following sequence files are provided in the fasta format: - unmasked genomic consensus sequence computed for each and all the Asip and Mc1r loci fragments (i.e. for Leopardus colocolo the unmasked consensus sequence file is labeled Lco.fa); - genomic consensus sequence computed for each and all of the Asip and Mc1r loci fragments and masked for repeats and low complexity sequence using RepeatMasker (i.e. for Leopardus colocolo the masked consensus sequence file is labeled Lco_rm.fa); - haplotype sequence data for each of the genomic fragments and each of the analyzed samples, one file per fragment (i.e. Lco_AsipA for AsipA fragment) containing two haplotypic sequences per sample. These sequences are labeled by indicating the genomic fragment, the species, the individual and finally the haplotype (i.e. AsipA_Lco-030_h1 [organism=Leopardus colocolo] ASIP locus segment A). The samples are labeled using the same identifiers as those provided in the manuscript (see Table S1 for details)
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2021
Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis are members of the Anaplasmataceae family that cause disease... more Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis are members of the Anaplasmataceae family that cause disease in dogs and are mainly transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus species group ticks. We performed a cross-sectional study on these pathogens across six bioclimatic regions of Chile, including 719 free-ranging rural dogs, 132 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 82 South American gray foxes (Lycalopex griseus). Dog and fox blood samples were first screened for DNA of Anaplasmataceae followed by two Ehrlichia-specific protocols. Antibodies against Anaplasma sp. and E. canis were assessed by immunofluorescence in dogs. Ectoparasites were collected and identified, with the determination of the lineages of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species group by molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Finally, potential risk factors for infection were investigated across the different bioclimatic regions and host species. All DNA amplicons obtained from the screening protocol corresponded to Anaplasma platys. The occurrence of both A. platys DNA and antibodies was confirmed in all six bioclimatic regions, except for regions at high altitude and/or without either R. sanguineus species group lineage present. Dogs infested with R. sanguineus ticks were significantly more prone to be infected and exposed to Anaplasma spp. Prevalence of DNA was significantly higher in juvenile (19%) than in adult dogs (9%), whereas the opposite was found for seroprevalence (19% versus 35%, respectively). Overall prevalence of A. platys DNA was higher in dogs (11%) than in foxes (4%), probably owing to markedly lower tick infestations in the foxes. Ehrlichia canis DNA was not detected in any sample, and antibodies against this pathogen were detected only in four dogs, in areas with both R. sanguineus lineages present. Free-ranging dogs in Chile could be favoring the maintenance of A. platys in all areas suitable for its tick vector. Although apparently infrequent, spillovers from dogs to foxes may be taking place and should be considered in management plans in Chile.
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2015
Molecular analyses of blood samples revealed infection with hemoplasmas in 97% of 31 cave bats ca... more Molecular analyses of blood samples revealed infection with hemoplasmas in 97% of 31 cave bats captured in three caves in North-Eastern Spain. The characterization of 1250bp of the 16S rRNA gene in 29 of the positive bats identified two different groups of sequences. Twenty-two Schreibers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) and one long-eared bat (Myotis capaccinii) shared one group, composed of seven closely related sequences. These sequences showed an identity of about 97% with &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Candidatus Mycoplasma hemohominis&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and the phylogenetic branch including bat and human sequences showed a 100% bootstrap value, supporting a close phylogenetic relationship between these hemoplasmas. The second group, representing a potentially novel species, was composed of a single sequence shared by six Schreibers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; bats that had 91% identity with the recently reported hemoplasma from little brown bats in North America. Large bat aggregations in roosting caves probably benefits intra and inter-species transmission explaining the high observed prevalence.
42 carnivore sympatry across a resource gradient. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological ... more 42 carnivore sympatry across a resource gradient. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 284(1848): 20161860. Miner B. G., Sultan S. E., Morgan S. G., Padilla D. K. & Relyea R. A. 2005. Ecological consequences of phenotypic plasticity. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 20, 685–692. Moreno R. S., Kays R. W. & Samudio R. 2006. Competitive release in diets of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and puma (Puma concolor) after jaguar (Panthera onca) decline. Journal of Mammalogy 87, 808–816. Palomares F. & Caro T. M. 1999. Interspecific killing among mammalian carnivores. The American Naturalist 153, 492–508. Polis G. A., Myers C. A. & Holt R. D. 1989. The ecology and evolution of intraguild predation: potential competitors that eat each other. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 20, 297–330. Ramesh T., Kalle R. & Downs C. T. 2017. Staying safe from top predators: patterns of co-occurrence and inter-predator interactions. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71, 1–14. Ritchie E....
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Papers by Constanza Napolitano