Eco-epidemiology of Hepatozoon sp. in wild rodents in protected and rural areas in north-central Chile.

Human-induced environmental changes can modify the transmission patterns of arthropod-borne infections across multiple ecological scales. This study evaluated the influence of habitat alteration on Hepatozoon sp. infection in wild rodents (Phyllotis darwini Waterhouse, 1837) inhabiting the semi-arid Mediterranean Coquimbo region of north-central Chile. Rodents were captured and sampled at two sites with contrasting levels of anthropogenic disturbance-a protected area (Bosque Fray Jorge National Park) and an altered rural site (El Tangue Farm)-across seven consecutive seasons from austral spring 2021 to autumn 2023. Hepatozoon sp. infection was assessed in rodent blood samples using conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and phylogenetic analyses. Statistical models were conducted to evaluate environmental and host-related factors. Overall, 144 of 446 (32.3%) blood samples were positive for Hepatozoon sp. by PCR. The likelihood of Hepatozoon sp. infection varied seasonally and was higher in rodents from the altered site and in individuals with higher body mass index. These findings highlight the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance and seasonality on the Hepatozoon infection status on wildlife populations. By characterizing patterns of Hepatozoon sp. infection in small mammals inhabiting anthropogenically altered environments, this study contributes to a better understanding of arthropod-borne infections under human-induced pressures, with implications for biodiversity conservation.