A5076528842- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Helminth infection and control
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Veterinary Oncology Research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
Universidad Nacional
2020-2025
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud
2020-2024
Universidad de Costa Rica
2017-2023
Auburn University
2022
Distance State University
2022
Abstract Background Mosquitoes are vectors of various arboviruses belonging to the genera Alphavirus and Flavivirus , Costa Rica is endemic several them. The aim this study was describe analyze community structure such in Rica. Methods Sampling performed two different coastal locations with evidence arboviral activity during rainy dry seasons. Encephalitis vector surveillance traps, CDC female gravid traps ovitraps were used. Detection by Pan-Alpha Pan-Flavi PCR attempted. Blood meals also...
In the absence of entomological information, tools for predicting
Mosquito sampling using efficient traps that can assess species diversity and/or presence of dominant vectors is important for understanding the entomological risk mosquito-borne disease transmission. Here, we present results from a survey mosquito sampled with ovitraps in neotropical rainforest Costa Rica. We found method to be an tool. With total effort 29 traps, collected 157 fourth-instar larvae and three pupae belonging eight taxonomic units (seven individuals homogenous unit identified...
Problems with vector surveillance are a major barrier for the effective control of vector-borne disease transmission through Latin America. Here, we present results from 80-week longitudinal study where
Rabies is a major zoonotic disease affecting humans, domestic and wildlife mammals. Cattle are the most important animals impacted by rabies virus in New World, leading to thousands of cattle deaths per year eliciting large economic losses. In transmission primarily associated with Desmodus rotundus, common vampire bat. This study analyses association weather fluctuations El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), occurrence magnitude, terms mortality, outbreaks. Data from 100 outbreaks recorded...
Costa Rica is a candidate to eliminate malaria by 2020. The remaining transmission hotspots are located within the Huétar Norte Region (HNR), where 90% of country's 147 cases have occurred since 2016, following 33-month period without transmission. Here, we examine changes in with implementation supervised seven-day chloroquine and primaquine treatment (7DCPT). We also evaluate impact focal mass drug administration (MDA) January 2019 at Boca Arenal, town HNR reporting greatest local found...
Abstract Background The present study provides a countrywide perspective of the malaria situation in Panamá over long-term framework, with purpose identifying historical resurgence events and their potential causes. Methods A descriptive-ecological was conducted by analysing demographic epidemiological annual time series data (1884–2019) using several sources. Malaria intensity indicators were calculated during period. effects El Niño Southern Oscillation on transmission also analysed...
Arboviruses have two ecological transmission cycles: sylvatic and urban. For some, the cycle has not been thoroughly described in America. To study role of wildlife a putative cycle, we sampled free-ranging bats birds arbovirus endemic locations analyzed them using molecular, serological, histological methods. No current infection was detected, no significant arbovirus-associated changes were observed. Neutralizing antibodies detected against selected arboviruses. In bats, positivity 34.95%...
Panamá, together with all the nations in Mesoamerica, has committed to eliminate malaria from region by 2020. As these countries approach elimination and local transmission decreases, an active molecular surveillance identify genotypes circulating along border areas is particularly needed accurately infer infection origin, drug resistance disease propagation patterns region. This study evaluated genetic diversity allele frequencies of msp-1, msp-2 glurp genes using different analyses (nested...
Knowledge about mosquito species diversity at tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs) in Mesoamerica is scarce. Here, we present data on richness from samples biweekly collected, January to December 2017, ovitraps installed a TMCF patch Vázquez de Coronado County, Costa Rica. Ovitraps were placed 2.25, 1.50 and 0.75 m 16 sampling points. During the study period measured relative humidity air temperature each point, water temperature, volume pH ovitrap. We collected total of 431 larvae...
Panama and all nations within the Mesoamerican region have committed to eliminate malaria this decade. With more than 90% of cases in caused by Plasmodium vivax, an efficient national/regional elimination plan must include a comprehensive study parasite’s genetic diversity. Here, we retrospectively analyzed P. vivax diversity autochthonous imported field isolates collected different endemic regions from 2007 2020, using highly polymorphic markers (csp, msp-1, msp-3α). We did analysis...
Costa Rica harbors several flaviviruses, including Dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Saint Louis encephalitis (SLEV). While DENV ZIKV are hyperendemic, previous research indicates restricted circulation of SLEV WNV in animals. seroprevalence high transmission areas have not yet been measured. To determine the extents putative circulation, we sampled peri-domestic domestic animals, humans, mosquitoes rural households located two hyperendemic regions during rainy dry...
Bats are important reservoirs and spreaders of pathogens, including those zoonotic concern. Though Costa Rica hosts one the highest bat species' diversity, no information is available about their parasites. In order to investigate occurrence vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) gastrointestinal (GI) parasites chiropterans from this neotropical area, ectoparasites (n = 231) stools 64) were collected 113 bats sampled in Santa Cruz (site 1) Talamanca 2). Mites, fleas ticks morphologically molecularly...
Reports of renal neoplasia are rare in neotropical wildcats. Ocelots ( Leopardus pardalis ) medium-sized wildcats living America’s tropical forests. A 12-year-old captive ocelot was diagnosed with a mass occupying approximately 25% the total right kidney volume. The tissue stained routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) periodic acid–Schiff (PAS). Immunohistochemistry following markers performed: cytokeratin (CK) AE1/AE3, CK19, CK 7, CD10, vimentin, Melan A, HMB45, Pax-8, Wilms’ tumor 1...
Background Plasmodium vivax is the main causative agent of malaria in Panama. However, prevalence asymptomatic infections different endemic regions remains unknown. Understanding epidemiological behavior essential for elimination malaria. This study aimed to determine malarial one Panama using multiplex real-time reverse transcription RT-MqPCR. Methods A cross-sectional was conducted three communities Guna Yala Comarca. total 551 thick blood smears and their respective samples on filter...
Introducción. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) es un vector de arbovirus ampliamente distribuido. En Costa Rica la expansión geográfica Ae. se ha incrementado en última década, por lo que importante actualizar el conocimiento sobre su distribución. Objetivo. Informar hallazgo nuevas localidades Rica.Materiales y Métodos. Se colectaron formas inmaduras mosquitos con morfología sugestiva las provincias Puntarenas (isla Chira Golfito), Guanacaste (Liberia), Alajuela (Upala), San José (Acosta) Heredia...
Bats are important natural reservoir hosts of a diverse range viruses that can be transmitted to humans and have been suggested play an role in the Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission cycle. However, exact these animals as reservoirs for flaviviruses is still controversial. To further expand our understanding bats ZIKV cycle Latin America, we carried out experimental infection wild-caught Artibeus lituratus sampled several free-living neotropical across three countries region. Experimental was...
Abstract West Nile virus (WNV) and Saint Louis encephalitis (SLEV) share similar transmission cycles that involve birds as amplifiers mosquitoes vectors. Mammals, including humans, are dead-end-hosts may be asymptomatic or develop more severe symptoms. Costa Rica is a hyperendemic country for several flaviviruses such Dengue (DENV) Zika (ZIKV) previous research showed limited restricted SLEV WNV circulation in horses, sloths, monkeys. Nevertheless, actual seroprevalence high areas not yet...
Arboviruses have two ecological transmission cycles, sylvatic and urban. For some, the cycle has not been thoroughly described in America. To study role of wildlife a putative cycle, we sampled free-ranging bats birds arbovirus endemic locations analyzed them using molecular, serological, histological methods. No current infection was detected, no significant arbovirus-associated changes were observed. Neutralizing antibodies detected against selected arboviruses. In bats, positivity 34.95%...
Abstract Background: The present study provides a countrywide perspective of the malaria situation in Panama over long-term framework, with purpose identifying historical resurgence events and their potential causes. Methods: A descriptive-ecological was conducted by analyzing demographic epidemiological annual time series data Panamá (1884 – 2019) using several sources. Malaria intensity indicators were calculated during period. We also analyze effects El Niño Southern Oscillation on...
Abstract Background: The present study provides a countrywide perspective of the malaria situation in Panama over long-term framework, with purpose identifying historical resurgence events and their potential causes. Methods: A descriptive-ecological was conducted by analyzing demographic epidemiological annual time series data Panamá (1884 – 2019) using several sources. Malaria intensity indicators were calculated during period. We also analyze effects El Niño Southern Oscillation on...