Human intervention in the natural environment of Panama, such as deforestation and agriculture, not only affects biodiversity, but also increases the risk of infection with the pathogen that causes tropical Chagas disease, which can affect both animals and humans. This is shown by the results of a study by wildlife ecologists from Ulm University, which has been published in the scientific journal „One Health“. The researchers analysed small mammals in various habitats: from pristine rainforests to commercial timber plantations. The study provides new insights into how land use and changes in biodiversity can contribute to the spread of zoonotic pathogens