PUBLICATIONS
Here’s where you can explore our latest One Health research, connecting human, animal and environmental health.
2026
Grant-Riquelme, T.; Poblete, Y.; Fresno, M.; Baumberger, C.; Fernandez Fonseca, I.; Hamilton-West, C.; Di Pillo, F.
Trichinellosis knowledge and preventive practices in Mapuche communities of southern Chile: Evidence for targeted One Health implementation
Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease (zoonosis) that can spread from pigs to people through undercooked pork, and it still persists in rural areas where pigs are raised and slaughtered at home. This study looked at what Mapuche communities in southern Chile know about the disease and how they protect themselves, and asked a key question: does knowing more actually lead to safer practices? The answer offers valuable clues for prevention that brings together human, animal and environmental health.
Rivera, D.; Vidal, M.; Pezoa, D.; Fresno, M.; Parra, B..
From fragmentation to integration: The case of multidrug-resistant Salmonella and the need for One Health-based governance in Chile
It travels from chicken farms to rivers, from our plates to hospitals, and it’s getting harder to treat. Multidrug-resistant Salmonella is spreading in Chile, but the agencies tracking it in people, animals and the environment still work largely in separate silos. This review shows why connecting those dots, from DNA sequencing to shared data, could be key to stopping the next outbreak
Hamilton-West, C.; Di Pillo, F.; Dietze, K.; Gonzalez, J. L.
Editorial: Emerging zoonotic diseases: understanding and mitigating risks at animal-human interfaces
A rabid dog passing the virus to a cow in Ghana. Bats and pigeons carrying a lung fungus in Ecuador. A pet cat in Chile whose fungal infection turned life-threatening. These are just some of the cases in a new collection of studies on zoonoses, the diseases that jump between animals and people. From homes and vet clinics to farms and bushmeat markets, researchers across four continents reveal where these risks hide, and why stopping them takes science, local knowledge and smart policy working together.
Souza, J.; Araya, L.; Vergara, M. E.; Pinto, R.; Escobar, B.; Rubio, A. V.; Bacigalupo, A.; Hidalgo, C.; Ramírez-Alvarez, D.; Foerster, C.; Derrien, M.; Rojo, G.
Probable Microcystin Toxicosis in a Red-Gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) from a Protected Coastal Wetland in Central Chile - A Sentinel for Toxic Cyanobacterial Bloom?
A bird that could barely stand was the first warning sign. In 2025, the water in Laguna Petrel, a protected wetland in the coastal town of Pichilemu, turned into a breeding ground for toxic cyanobacteria, and dead animals began to appear along its shores. Researchers examined a red-gartered coot found struggling at the lagoon and discovered severe liver damage and high levels of a powerful toxin. Their conclusion: waterbirds can act as early-warning signals for invisible threats in our wetlands, threats that can also affect pets and people.
Toro, F.; Mallea, G.; Alvarado-Rybak, M.; Toro-Barros, B.; Alarcón, J.; Trivelli, J.; Calvo, C.; Cruz-Jofre, F.; Abarca-Mora, P.; Leiva, J.; Arriagada, J.; Frenkel, S.; Salah, P.; Sepúlveda, M.; Seguel, M.; Medina-Vogel, G.; Huerta-Santander, T.; Pavez, G.
Using spatio-temporal clustering to identify mortality patterns and anthropogenic drivers in the marine otter (Lontra felina) in north-central Chile
The marine otter is one of the smallest and most endangered marine mammals on Chile’s coast, and one of its biggest threats doesn’t come from the sea, but from land. Researchers analyzed 22 years of records and found 181 dead otters along north-central Chile. Where the cause could be identified, free-roaming dogs were the most common culprit, followed by fishing nets. The deaths were concentrated near coastal towns such as Caldera, Punta de Choros and Maitencillo. The good news: responsible pet ownership could make a real difference.
González, C.; Negrete, C.; Do, A.; Herrera, J.; Martínez Díaz, I.; Calderón, R.; Rodríguez, B.
Tertiary treatment of domestic wastewater for reuse: Implementation and evaluation in a rural context in Chile
In La Higuera, in Chile’s dry north, it rains less than 90 millimeters a year, yet almost all of the country’s treated wastewater is simply discharged into rivers or the sea. Researchers tested a low-cost system that uses natural Chilean minerals, activated carbon and UV light to give that water a second life. The result: 99.9% of fecal bacteria removed, and clean enough water to irrigate a local agroecological park. A simple, affordable idea that could help other rural communities facing drought.
Gallardo, B., Portal, F., Hoffmeister, M., González, P., Truffa, L., Aránguiz, F., Dueñas, R., Poblete, Y., Ramiréz Fresno, M., Di Pollo, F., de Val, M. J. (2026). Dispositivos gráficos y editoriales para la especulación más-que-humana: Un estudio sobre la castoridad. Revista 180, (57).
Graphic and Editorial Devices for More-than-Human Speculation: A Study on ‘Beaverness’
What if a beaver could write? Artist Marianne Hoffmeister turned the tooth marks a beaver left on a tree trunk into CASTOR, an experimental typeface of 109 signs without an alphabet. A project that brings together art, design and ecology to question how we see and value other species, from the forests of North America to the beaver conflict in Tierra del Fuego (Southern Chile and Argentina).
Parra, B.; Bastías, R.; Higuera, G.; Rosales, I. M.; Galarce, L.; Rivera, V.; Allel, K.; Fonseca-Martins, M.; Vives, M. J.; Jiménez, J. N.; Echeverría, N.; Marambio, C.; Aguayo, D.; González-Rocha, G.; Villamil, A.; Fresno, M.; Rivera, D.
Regulatory Harmonization Needs for Farm-to-Fork Bacteriophage Applications in South American Food Systems
Meet the tiny viruses that hunt bacteria, and could help keep our food safe. Bacteriophages attack only harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, offering a natural alternative to antibiotics at a time when antimicrobial resistance already causes some 322,000 deaths a year in South America. So why are these “bacteria-eaters” still barely used on the region’s farms and food lines? This review reveals the regulatory maze holding them back, and what it would take to bring them from farm to fork.
Baumberger, C.; Di Pillo, F.; Sanchez, F.; Sepúlveda, A.; Marambio, V.; Orozco, K.; Tapia, D.; Hamilton-West, C.; Sharp, B.; Schultz-Cherry, S.; Jiménez-Bluhm, P.
Serological and Molecular Surveillance of Influenza A Virus in Dogs and Cats in Central Chile
Can your dog or cat catch the flu? In central Chile, the answer seems to be yes: about half of the dogs and cats tested in shelters and multi-pet homes had been exposed to influenza A, some of them to the same strain that circulates among humans. The study also reports the first detection of the virus in cats in South America, and shows why keeping an eye on our pets may help prevent the next flu surprise.
Baquedano, M. S.; Stoore, C.; Hidalgo, C.; Paredes, R.
Distribution of CD3⁺ T lymphocytes in the adventitial layer of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto cysts in cattle and sheep with or without Fasciola hepatica co-infection
A tiny parasite, spread by dogs, forms fluid-filled cysts in the livers and lungs of livestock, and costs Chile’s cattle industry around 1.5 million dollars a year in discarded livers alone. But why do these cysts usually stay “dead ends” in cattle, while in sheep they often keep the parasite’s life cycle going? This study zoomed in on the immune cells surrounding the cysts and found a surprising clue: it’s not just how many defenders the body sends, but where they take up position
Valero-Breton, M.; Portal-Rodriguez, M.; Tacchi, F.; Salgado-Valdovinos, J.; Monsalves-Álvarez, M.; Hidalgo, C.; Stoore, C.; Paredes, R.; Cabrera, D.; Cabello-Verrugio, C.
Recovery Kinetics and Persistent Hepatic Alterations in a Xenobiotic-induced Murine Model of Chronic Cholestatic Liver Disease
The liver is famous for its ability to heal itself, but how quickly does it really recover once the damage stops? In this study, researchers followed mice with a chronic liver disease that blocks the flow of bile, similar to conditions seen in humans. Even five weeks after the cause of the damage was removed, signs of injury and scarring were still there. These findings help scientists better understand how the liver recovers, and give them a clearer timeline for studying future treatments for liver disease
Alvarado-Rybak, M.; Díaz-Mancilla, C.; Ramírez-Meza, K.; Valladares-Faúndez, P.; Toro, F.; Azat, C.s in Chile between 2009 and 2022
Spatiotemporal patterns and causes of sea turtle stranding
Did you know that sea turtles live along the coast of Chile? In fact, it’s home to one of the southernmost sea turtle populations in the world. But between 2009 and 2022, more than 500 turtles washed up on Chilean beaches, mostly in the north, and the number has been rising. Where cause could be identified, human activity was often to blame, from fishing nets to boat strikes. This first nationwide study maps the hotspots, none of which are in protected areas, and shows where conservation is most urgently needed.
Quiroga, N.; Bacigalupo, A.; San Juan, E.; Correa, J. P.; Rojo, G.; Paredes, R.; Solari, A.; Hidalgo, C.; Botto-Mahan, C.
Environmental Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira DNA in Agricultural Ecosystems from a Mediterranean-Climate Region of Central Chile
Dry summers should make it hard for leptospirosis bacteria to survive. So why were traces found most often in summer? Leptospirosis is a disease that spreads mainly through the urine of infected animals, like rats, and can reach people through contaminated soil and water. Researchers analyzed more than 600 soil and water samples from farms in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and found DNA of the bacteria at every site and in every season, especially in soil. One possible explanation: irrigation keeps fields moist, even in the driest months.