| Popis: |
Desmodus rotundus is one of the wild animal species that has benefitted by habitat alteration and its population has increased due to livestock activities. Because vampire bats have caused economic losses to livestock production by feeding from these and other mammals and being the main rabies virus transmitter for cattle, population control campaigns have been implemented in Mexico. Yucatan is one of the seven most impacted States in Mexico by the number of cattle rabies cases per year, however, there is little research on vampire bat populations and attacks to cattle frequency patterns has never been analyzed so far. This study’s objective was to analyze the relationship between D. rotundus abundancy and number of bovines attacked in livestock landscapes in Yucatan. The study used data gathered by the State Committee for Protection and Promotion of Livestock in Yucatan through the National Campaign for Vampire Bat Population Control. Data from January 2014 to December 2017 was analyzed using Pearson correlation and bat abundancy and number of bovines attacked distribution maps. Greater abundancy of vampire bats and number of cattle attacked were observed in the central region of Yucatan, particularly in Izamal municipality. Positive correlation was found between 1) Abundancy of vampire bats and number of cattle in the region, 2) Total number of cattle and number of cattle attacked, and 3) Abundancy of vampire bats and number of cattle attacked. We can conclude that the relationship between abundancy of vampire bats and frequency of cattle attacked is positive. |
