ZOONOTIC PARASITES AND MICROMAMMALS IN THE YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO: CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CCBA-UADY

Abstract

Background. Micromammals are reservoirs of zoonotic parasites such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans and helminths. Objective. To present a review of the published literature on the study of zoonotic (or potential zoonotic) parasites of micromammals in the Yucatan Peninsula (PYU), Mexico, conducted by research groups of the Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CCBA) of the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY). Main findings. Thirty-two scientific contributions published from January 2002 to May 2020 were identified. Parasites such as viruses (Flavivirus spp.), bacteria (Rickettsia spp., Leptospira spp.), protozoans (Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii) and helminths (Hymenolepis spp., Hydatigera taeniaeformis), were studied. These parasites were identified in 15 micromammal species, including rodents Mus musculus, Rattus rattus (Muridae), Heteromys gaumeri (Heteromyidae), Peromyscus yucatanicus, Sigmodon toltecus, Ototylomys phyllotis and Mesocricetus auratus (Cricetidae), Sciurus yucatanensis (Sciuridae), the marsupial Didelphis virginiana (Didelphidae), the coati Nasua narica (Procyonidae), the grison Galictis vittata (Mustelidae), and the bats Artibeus jamaicensis, Chiroderma villosum, Glossophaga soricina (Phyllostomidae) and Pteronotus mesoamericanus (Mormoopidae). Implications. Micromammals from the PYU harbor several zoonotic parasites which represent a public health risk. Conclusion. Thirty-two studies have been published by researchers of the CCBA-UADY that have increased the knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of zoonotic parasites of micromammals in the PYU.

Keywords

• zoonosis
• virus
• bacterias
• protozoarios
• helmintos
• península de yucatán.