Published: 09 May 2026.
Juliana Sánchez and Soledad Leonardi have recently guest edited a special issue for RES journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology (MVE): Mammalian ectoparasite threats and management under a changing climate in the Global South. Here we find out more about Juliana and Soledad and the special issue.
What is your research focus?
Juliana:
My research focuses on the taxonomy and ecology of vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens, particularly those associated with small mammals and their fleas. I am interested in how environmental change, land-use dynamics, and host–parasite interactions shape pathogen transmission. Much of my work integrates field ecology, molecular diagnostics, and statistical and biogeographical analyses to understand the emergence, circulation, and diversification of pathogens in wildlife.
Soledad:
My work explores how lice have evolved to survive on amphibious hosts such as seals and sea lions, combining evolutionary ecology with questions about host health and disease transmission. Alongside my research, I advocate for gender equality in science.
What is the scope of the special issue?
Juliana: The special issue explores how mammalian ectoparasites and the pathogens they transmit are influenced by rapid environmental, climatic, and socio-ecological changes across the Global South. It brings together studies that examine ectoparasite diversity, host associations, transmission dynamics, and disease risks, as well as methodological approaches and management strategies relevant to these contexts. The aim is to highlight regionally grounded research that contributes to global understanding of ectoparasite ecology under a changing climate. This special issue also seeks to highlight the high quality of research produced in the Global South, in spite of the challenges associated with working from the so-called periphery. We especially emphasize the significant contribution of women authors and the importance of making their work more visible.
What type of papers are included in the special issue?
Soledad: It includes a diverse collection of contributions from several countries in Global South: original research articles, methodological studies, and comprehensive reviews. These papers cover a wide range of ectoparasite and mammalian taxa, and address topics such as parasite–host networks, biogeographical models, vectorial importance, climate-related shifts in ectoparasite distribution, risk assessment for zoonotic pathogens, and applied strategies for surveillance and control.
What is the importance of this special issue and the topic?
Soledad: Research on ectoparasites in the Global South is essential because a range of geopolitical, economic, and environmental factors converge to increase both the urgency and complexity of studying mammalian ectoparasites in this global region. Despite the variety of climates present in these regions, many areas are characterized by ecological conditions that support a high level of biodiversity. Furthermore, historical and current changes in land use, driven by global economic pressures and development models, have transformed natural landscapes worldwide. In the Global South, these transformations often intersect with high levels of interaction among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.
Juliana: Collectively, these interactions shape the dynamics of ectoparasite ecology. Combined with climate change, which is altering the distribution and seasonality of ectoparasites, these conditions make research in the Global South not only locally relevant but also critical for anticipating global scenarios. Therefore, understanding these complex biological systems is not only a scientific challenge, but also a shared ethical responsibility of the global scientific community. Historically, research in these areas has often been influenced by parachute science, which has obscured or undervalued the leadership of local scientists. This special issue showcases the high-quality, contextually informed research produced by scientists working within the Global South, emphasizing the importance of their perspectives in advancing global knowledge on ectoparasite ecology, climate-driven disease risks, and effective management strategies.
The Royal Entomological Society is working hard to ensure equity in insect science, and it is really positive to see a special issue that focuses on the Global South and highlights some of the issues faced by researchers in the Global South. Gender equity is another important issue. What more could be done, in your view, to support gender diversity in in this field and in entomology in general?
Juliana: Today, many women are dedicated to science, although they often have to overcome numerous social and professional barriers, such as balancing family and professional life, facing cultural prejudices, and dealing with limited professional recognition. Despite being a large and essential part of the scientific community, relatively few women reach the highest positions within scientific institutions or university leadership. The so-called “glass ceiling” still limits women’s access to the upper levels of academic and professional careers. Although some measures have been implemented in recent years to improve work–life balance, the scientific and academic sectors are still not fully prepared to support women’s professional development equally. This includes addressing structural inequalities such as limited access to funding, lower academic visibility, gaps in leadership positions, and experiences of discrimination or harassment, particularly during fieldwork.
It would also be valuable to strengthen mentorship and support networks among researchers, promote institutional policies with a gender perspective, and ensure equal opportunities in publishing, conferences, and scientific collaborations. Concrete measures that journals could adopt include ensuring better gender balance among article reviewers and editorial boards, as well as encouraging the participation of women as lead or senior authors in research publications.
Increasing the visibility of women scientists, their work, and the contexts in which they developed or continue to develop their careers can inspire scientific vocations in girls and young women. In short, a more gender-diverse scientific community is not only fairer, but also more innovative and better aligned with the diversity of the society it seeks to reflect and serve.
What is your editor’s choice paper from the special issue?
Soledad: The paper by López Berrizbeitia and colleagues (2025) was my favourite, as it accurately reflects the core scope of the special issue. It integrates host-ectoparasite biogeography with ecological modelling to examine how environmental factors shape the distribution of both hosts and ectoparasites. Its emphasis on shared favourability, climatic drivers, and host-ectoparasite interactions exemplifies the kind of interdisciplinary, spatially explicit work we sought to showcase.
Juliana: My favourite paper was Ospina-Pérez et al. (2025). In this study, the authors projected current and future distributions of a tick species under different climate-change scenarios across the Neotropical ecoregions. These models contribute greatly to the field of ectoparasite-borne infection epidemiology, as climate change is predicted to cause an expansion of the geographic ranges of several arthropod species, which could result in a possible increase in the transmission of ectoparasite-borne diseases.
What is the future of research into ectoparasites?
Soledad: The future of research on ectoparasites lies in increasingly integrative and interdisciplinary approaches. Historically, studies on mammalian ectoparasites were largely focused on taxonomy and faunistics, describing diversity and host–parasite associations. However, the field has expanded significantly in recent decades. Advances in molecular tools, phylogenetics, ecological modelling and spatial analyses that incorporate climatic and environmental data now allow us to address broader questions about parasite distribution, host–parasite coevolution and pathogen transmission, particularly in the context of global change.
Juliana: Looking ahead, there is an increasing need for long-term monitoring, predictive frameworks and collaborative research networks, especially at regional levels. In order to improve surveillance and develop effective, locally grounded management strategies, it is essential to strengthen collaborations led by scientists in the Global South. This will also help to better understand pathogen dynamics across scales. It is also vital to acknowledge and amplify the contributions of researchers in the Global South. Their work consistently demonstrates strong academic rigor despite facing structural challenges. Increasing the visibility of research is key to building a more equitable and truly global scientific community.
“As editor-in-chief of this special issue, it was my pleasure to read each of these articles. Every contribution highlights an important topic in the global field of mammalian ectoparasite research, and the articles were selected with great care by the guest editors to represent a diverse range of organisms, topics, and geographic regions.
However, the most rewarding aspect of my role was interacting with the guest editors and authors, whose passion for their research was contagious and whose dedication to producing high-quality, ethically conducted science was truly admirable.”
– Editor-in-chief Emma Weeks
All articles in this Special Issue are free for 3 months – Read them now!
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