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Pourkarim MR. Navigating Evolving Challenges in Blood Safety. Viruses 2024; 16:123. [PMID: 38257823 PMCID: PMC10821029 DOI: 10.3390/v16010123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood safety remains a paramount public health concern, and health authorities maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Reza Pourkarim
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Health Policy Research Centre, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-14336, Iran
- Blood Transfusion Research Centre, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion, Tehran 14665-1157, Iran
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2
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Drews SJ, Wendel S, Leiby DA, Tonnetti L, Ushiro-Lumb I, O'Brien SF, Lieshout-Krikke RW, Bloch EM. Climate change and parasitic risk to the blood supply. Transfusion 2023; 63:638-645. [PMID: 36565251 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Drews
- Canadian Blood Services, Microbiology, Donation Policy and Studies, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Silvano Wendel
- Blood Bank, Hospital Sírio-Libanês Blood Bank, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David A Leiby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Laura Tonnetti
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Holland Laboratories for the Biomedical Sciences, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Microbiology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryanne W Lieshout-Krikke
- Department of Medical Affairs, Corporate Staff, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Evan M Bloch
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Pessanha TS, Herrera HM, Jansen AM, Iñiguez AM. "Mi Casa, Tu Casa": the coati nest as a hub of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the southern Pantanal biome revealed by molecular blood meal source identification in triatomines. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:26. [PMID: 36691054 PMCID: PMC9872340 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05616-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of the ecology of Trypanosoma cruzi is challenging due to its extreme adaptive plasticity, resulting in the parasitism of hundreds of mammal species and dozens of triatomine species. The genetic analysis of blood meal sources (BMS) from the triatomine vector is an accurate and practical approach for gathering information on which wild mammal species participate in a local transmission network. South American coatis, Nasua nasua, act as important reservoir host species of T. cruzi in the Pantanal biome because of their high rate of infection and elevated parasitemia, with the main discrete typing unit (DTU) lineages (TcI and TcII). Moreover, the carnivore coati is the only mammal species to build high arboreal nests for breeding and resting that can be shared by various vertebrate and invertebrate species. Herein, we applied the sensitive and specific methodology of DNA barcoding and molecular cloning to study triatomines found in a coati nest to access the diversity of mammal species that explore this structure, and therefore, may be involved in the parasite transmission network. METHODS Twenty-three Triatoma sordida were collected in one coati's nest in the subregion of Nhecolândia, Pantanal. The DNA isolated from the gut of insects was subjected to BMS detection by PCR using universal primers that flank variable regions of the cytochrome b (cytb) and 12S rDNA mitochondrial genes from vertebrates. The Trypanosoma spp. diagnosis and DTU genotyping were based on an 18S rDNA molecular marker and also using new cytb gene primers designed in this study. Phylogenetic analyses and chord diagrams were constructed to visualize BMS haplotypes, DTU lineages detected on vectors, and their interconnections. RESULTS Twenty of 23 triatomines analyzed were PCR-positive (86.95%) showing lineages T. cruzi DTU TcI (n = 2), TcII (n = 6), and a predominance of TcI/TcII (n = 12) mixed infection. Intra-DTU diversity was observed mainly from different TcI haplotypes. Genetic analyses revealed that the southern anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla, was the unique species detected as the BMS of triatomines collected from the coati's nest. At least three different individuals of T. tetradactyla served as BMS of 21/23 bugs studied, as indicated by the cytb and 12S rDNA haplotypes identified. CONCLUSIONS The identification of multiple BMS, and importantly, different individuals of the same species, was achieved by the methodology applied. The study demonstrated that the southern anteaters can occupy the South American coati's nest, serving as the BMS of T. sordida specimens. Since anteaters have an individualist nonsocial behavior, the three individuals detected as BMS stayed at the coati's nest at different times, which added a temporal character to BMS detection. The TcI and TcII infection, and significantly, a predominance of TcI/TcII mixed infection profile with different TcI and TcII haplotypes was observed, due to the discriminatory capacity of the methodology applied. Tamandua tetradactyla, a host which has been little studied, may have an important role in the T. cruzi transmission in that Pantanal subregion. The data from the present study indicate the sharing of coatis' nests by other mammal species, expanding the possibilities for T. cruzi transmission in the canopy strata. We propose that coatis' nests can act as the true hubs of the T. cruzi transmission web in Pantanal, instead of the coatis themselves, as previously suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaíla Santos Pessanha
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Biologia em Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brasil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- grid.442132.20000 0001 2111 5825Laboratório de Biologia Parasitária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso Do Sul Brasil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Biologia em Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brasil
| | - Alena Mayo Iñiguez
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Biologia em Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brasil
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4
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Murray KO, Saldaña MA, Gunter SM, Manzanero R, Zielinski-Gutierrez E, Herrera C, Thompson JM, Maliga A, Bautista K, Lino A, Hawes E, Ronca SE, Morey F, Fuentes RC, Lopez B, Dumonteil E, Morazan GH. Diagnosis of Acute Chagas Disease in a Belizean Child with Evidence of a Multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:992-995. [PMID: 36395748 PMCID: PMC9709023 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In January 2020, we instituted acute febrile illness surveillance in 11 hospitals and clinics across Belize. Within 3 months, we diagnosed an acute case of Chagas disease by polymerase chain reaction in a 7-year-old child in the northern part of the country. Phylogenetic analyses of the parasite from the acute blood specimen revealed a multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi infection, including parasites from the TcII (25.0% of haplotypes), TcIV (2.5% of haplotypes), and TcV (72.5% of haplotypes) discrete typing units. The family reported no history of travel, and three Triatoma species vectors were found within the home. The child's mother was seronegative for antibodies to T. cruzi, ruling out congenital transmission. Convalescent blood samples documented seroconversion and confirmed acute infection. The child was successfully treated with nifurtimox. This is the first known diagnosed case of acute Chagas infection in Belize, highlighting the need for further investigation and public health prevention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy O Murray
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Miguel A Saldaña
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Sarah M Gunter
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Julie M Thompson
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Adrianna Maliga
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Kim Bautista
- Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness, Belmopan, Belize
| | - Allison Lino
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Ella Hawes
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Shannon E Ronca
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- William T. Shearer Center for Human Immunobiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Francis Morey
- Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness, Belmopan, Belize
| | - Rafael Chacon Fuentes
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Central America Region, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Beatriz Lopez
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Central America Region, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Gerhaldine H Morazan
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness, Belmopan, Belize
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5
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Ribeiro-Jr G, Araújo RFD, Carvalho CMMD, Cunha GM, Lanza FC, Miranda DLP, Sousa OMFD, Santos CGSD, Fonseca EOL, Santos RFD, Reis RB, Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Reis MG. Triatomine fauna in the state of Bahia, Brazil: What changed after 40 years of the vector-control program? Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:e07322021. [PMID: 35894404 PMCID: PMC9361752 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0732-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neglected tropical diseases are a growing threat to global health, and endemic Chagas disease has emerged as one of the most important health problems in America. The main strategy to prevent Trypanosoma cruzi transmission is chemical control of vectors. This study presents a descriptive analysis of synanthropic triatomines before and after the implementation of a vector-control program in Bahia, Brazil. Methods: Descriptive analysis and geospatial statistics were performed on triatomine data, (1) the relative abundance and (2) proportional spatial distribution, from Bahia during two periods: (A) 1957 to 1971 and (B) 2006 to 2019. Results: We observed a decrease in the relative abundance of Panstrongylus megistus (A: n=22.032, 61.9%; B: n=1.842, 1.0%) and Triatoma infestans (A: n=1.310, 3.7%; B: n=763, 0.43%), as well as an increase in the relative abundance of T. sordida (A: n=8.314, 23.4%, B: n=146.901, 81.6%) and T. pseudomaculata (A: n=894, 2.5%, B: n=16.717, 9.3%). Conclusions: Our results indicate a clear reduction in the occurrence of P. megistus and T. infestans (last record in 2015) and an increase in the relative abundance and geographical distribution of T. sordida and T. pseudomaculata after 40 years of the vector-control program. The high frequency of other triatomine species in the municipalities of the state of Bahia and their abundance in recent years highlight the need to reinforce permanent entomological surveillance actions to prevent Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilmar Ribeiro-Jr
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Renato Freitas de Araújo
- Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia, Centro de Saúde José Maria de Magalhães Neto, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Gabriel Muricy Cunha
- Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia, Centro de Saúde José Maria de Magalhães Neto, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Diego Lopes Paim Miranda
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil
| | - Orlando Marcos Farias de Sousa
- Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Coordenação Geral de Vigilância de Zoonoses e Doenças de Transmissão Vetorial, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Mitermayer Galvão Reis
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.,Yale University, Connecticut, USA
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Case BKM, Young JG, Penados D, Monroy C, Hébert-Dufresne L, Stevens L. Spatial epidemiology and adaptive targeted sampling to manage the Chagas disease vector Triatoma dimidiata. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010436. [PMID: 35653307 PMCID: PMC9162375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread application of insecticide remains the primary form of control for Chagas disease in Central America, despite only temporarily reducing domestic levels of the endemic vector Triatoma dimidiata and having little long-term impact. Recently, an approach emphasizing community feedback and housing improvements has been shown to yield lasting results. However, the additional resources and personnel required by such an intervention likely hinders its widespread adoption. One solution to this problem would be to target only a subset of houses in a community while still eliminating enough infestations to interrupt disease transfer. Here we develop a sequential sampling framework that adapts to information specific to a community as more houses are visited, thereby allowing us to efficiently find homes with domiciliary vectors while minimizing sampling bias. The method fits Bayesian geostatistical models to make spatially informed predictions, while gradually transitioning from prioritizing houses based on prediction uncertainty to targeting houses with a high risk of infestation. A key feature of the method is the use of a single exploration parameter, α, to control the rate of transition between these two design targets. In a simulation study using empirical data from five villages in southeastern Guatemala, we test our method using a range of values for α, and find it can consistently select fewer homes than random sampling, while still bringing the village infestation rate below a given threshold. We further find that when additional socioeconomic information is available, much larger savings are possible, but that meeting the target infestation rate is less consistent, particularly among the less exploratory strategies. Our results suggest new options for implementing long-term T. dimidiata control. Effective public health interventions for the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases require an efficient use of resources while still causing long-term disease reduction at the community level. To use resources to best effect, areas most in need of control efforts must be identified. However, strategies for correctly identifying these areas are rarely known due to the complex environmental, biological, and cultural factors shaping disease spread. In turn, incorrect prioritization of control targets can cause the intervention to have no lasting effect. We address this tradeoff between efficiency and efficacy by adapting control priorities throughout an intervention, targeting areas of high uncertainty during the initial stages while shifting to areas of greatest risk at later stages. In the context of controlling Triatoma dimidiata, the primary vector of Chagas disease in several countries in Latin America, our methods provide a means of targeting only a subset of homes for insecticide and housing improvements, while still reducing a village’s overall infestation rate below the critical threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. K. M. Case
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jean-Gabriel Young
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Daniel Penados
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Velázquez-Ramírez DD, Pérez de Léon AA, Ochoa-Díaz-López H. Review of American Trypanosomiasis in Southern Mexico Highlights Opportunity for Surveillance Research to Advance Control Through the One Health Approach. Front Public Health 2022; 10:838949. [PMID: 35372189 PMCID: PMC8964530 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.838949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de Léon
- USDA-ARS San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA, United States.,Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX, United States
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8
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Assessing risk of vector transmission of Chagas disease through blood source analysis using LC-MS/MS for hemoglobin sequence identification. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262552. [PMID: 35073364 PMCID: PMC8786159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is mainly transmitted by triatomine insect vectors that feed on vertebrate blood. The disease has complex domiciliary infestation patterns and parasite transmission dynamics, influenced by biological, ecological, and socioeconomic factors. In this context, feeding patterns have been used to understand vector movement and transmission risk. Recently, a new technique using Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) targeting hemoglobin peptides has showed excellent results for understanding triatomines' feeding patterns. The aim of this study was to further develop the automated computational analysis pipeline for peptide sequence taxonomic identification, enhancing the ability to analyze large datasets data. We then used the enhanced pipeline to evaluate the feeding patterns of Triatoma dimidiata, along with domiciliary infestation risk variables, such as unkempt piles of firewood or construction material, cracks in bajareque and adobe walls and intradomiciliary animals. Our new python scripts were able to detect blood meal sources in 100% of the bugs analyzed and identified nine different species of blood meal sources. Human, chicken, and dog were the main blood sources found in 78.7%, 50.4% and 44.8% of the bugs, respectively. In addition, 14% of the bugs feeding on chicken and 15% of those feeding on dogs were captured in houses with no evidence of those animals being present. This suggests a high mobility among ecotopes and houses. Two of the three main blood sources, dog and chicken, were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by domiciliary infestation risk variables, including cracks in walls, construction material and birds sleeping in the intradomicile. This suggests that these variables are important for maintaining reproducing Triatoma dimidiata populations and that it is critical to mitigate these variables in all the houses of a village for effective control of these mobile vectors.
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9
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Moo-Millan JI, Arnal A, Pérez-Carrillo S, Hernandez-Andrade A, Ramírez-Sierra MJ, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E, Waleckx E. Disentangling Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle dynamics through the identification of blood meal sources of natural populations of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatán, Mexico. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:572. [PMID: 31783778 PMCID: PMC6884771 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3819-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Little effort has been made to identify blood meal sources of T. dimidiata in natural conditions in this region, although this provides key information to disentangle T. cruzi transmission cycles and dynamics and guide the development of more effective control strategies. We identified the blood meals of a large sample of T. dimidiata bugs collected in different ecotopes simultaneously with the assessment of bug infection with T. cruzi, to disentangle the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in the region. Methods A sample of 248 T. dimidiata bugs collected in three rural villages and in the sylvatic habitat surrounding these villages was used. DNA from each bug midgut was extracted and bug infection with T. cruzi was assessed by PCR. For blood meal identification, we used a molecular assay based on cloning and sequencing following PCR amplification with vertebrate universal primers, and allowing the detection of multiple blood meals in a single bug. Results Overall, 28.7% of the bugs were infected with T. cruzi, with no statistical difference between bugs from the villages or from sylvatic ecotopes. Sixteen vertebrate species including domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic animals, were identified as blood meal sources for T. dimidiata. Human, dog and cow were the three main species identified, in bugs collected in the villages as well as in sylvatic ecotopes. Importantly, dog was highlighted as the main blood meal source after human. Dog was also the most frequently identified animal together with human within single bugs, and tended to be associated with the infection of the bugs. Conclusions Dog, human and cow were identified as the main mammals involved in the connection of sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Dog appeared as the most important animal in the transmission pathway of T. cruzi to humans, but other domestic and synanthropic animals, which most were previously reported as important hosts of T. cruzi in the region, were evidenced and should be taken into account as part of integrated control strategies aimed at disrupting parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Israel Moo-Millan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Audrey Arnal
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico.,Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México
| | - Silvia Pérez-Carrillo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Anette Hernandez-Andrade
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - María-Jesús Ramírez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico. .,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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10
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Keller JI, Lima-Cordón R, Monroy MC, Schmoker AM, Zhang F, Howard A, Ballif BA, Stevens L. Protein mass spectrometry detects multiple bloodmeals for enhanced Chagas disease vector ecology. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 74:103998. [PMID: 31401306 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.103998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic in Latin America, is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is responsible for significant health impacts, especially in rural communities. The parasite is transmitted by insect vectors in the Triatominae subfamily and due to lack of vaccines and limited treatment options, vector control is the main way of controlling the disease. Knowing what vectors are feeding on directly enhances our understanding of the ecology and biology of the different vector species and can potentially aid in engaging communities in active disease control, a concept known as Ecohealth management. We evaluated bloodmeals in rural community, house-caught insect vectors previously evaluated for bloodmeals via DNA analysis as part of a larger collaborative project from three countries in Central America, including Guatemala. In addition to identifying bloodmeals in 100% of all samples using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (n = 50), strikingly for 53% of these samples there was no evidence of a recent bloodmeal by DNA-PCR. As individual vectors often feed on multiple sources, we developed an enhanced detection pipeline, and showed the ability to quantify a bloodmeal using stable-isotope-containing synthetic references peptides, a first step in further exploration of species-specific bloodmeal composition. Furthermore, we show that a lower resolution mass spectrometer is sufficient to correctly identify taxa from bloodmeals, an important and strong attribute of our LC-MS/MS-based method, opening the door to using proteomics in countries where Chagas disease is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith I Keller
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Raquel Lima-Cordón
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - M Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Edificio T-10 Ciudad Universitaria Zona 12, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Anna M Schmoker
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Alan Howard
- Statistical Software Support and Consulting Services, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Bryan A Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
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11
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Chagas Disease in Central America: Recent Findings and Current Challenges in Vector Ecology and Control. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-019-00175-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Dorn PL, Justi SA, Dale C, Stevens L, Galvão C, Lima-Cordón R, Monroy C. Description of Triatoma mopan sp. n. from a cave in Belize (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae). Zookeys 2018:69-95. [PMID: 30057472 PMCID: PMC6058004 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.775.22553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, Triatomamopansp. n. is described based on five males and six females collected in the Rio Frio cave, Cayo District, Belize. This species is similar to Triatomadimidiata (Latreille), but can be distinguished by characters found on the pronotum, legs, and abdomen. Geometric morphometry and phylogenetic comparisons are also provided. Presently, the species is known only from the type locality and is a potential Chagas vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L Dorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Silvia A Justi
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.,The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution Museum Support Center, 4210 Silver Hill Rd, Suitland, MD 20746-2863, USA
| | - Carolina Dale
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade Entomológica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Cleber Galvão
- Laboratório Nacional e Internacional de Referência em Taxonomia de Triatomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Carlota Monroy
- LENAP, University of San Carlos, Guatemala City, Guatemala
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13
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Detailed ecological associations of triatomines revealed by metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing: implications for triatomine behavior and Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29515202 PMCID: PMC5841364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22455-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the agent of Chagas disease, transmitted by hematophagous triatomine vectors. Establishing transmission cycles is key to understand the epidemiology of the disease, but integrative assessments of ecological interactions shaping parasite transmission are still limited. Current approaches also lack sensitivity to assess the full extent of this ecological diversity. Here we developed a metabarcoding approach based on next-generation sequencing to identify triatomine gut microbiome, vertebrate feeding hosts, and parasite diversity and their potential interactions. We detected a dynamic microbiome in Triatoma dimidiata, including 23 bacterial orders, which differed according to blood sources. Fourteen vertebrate species served as blood sources, corresponding to domestic, synantropic and sylvatic species, although four (human, dog, cow and mice) accounted for over 50% of blood sources. Importantly, bugs fed on multiple hosts, with up to 11 hosts identified per bug, indicating very frequent host-switching. A high clonal diversity of T. cruzi was detected, with up to 20 haplotypes per bug. This analysis provided much greater sensitivity to detect multiple blood meals and multiclonal infections with T. cruzi, which should be taken into account to develop transmission networks, and characterize the risk for human infection, eventually leading to a better control of disease transmission.
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14
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Keller JI, Ballif BA, St. Clair RM, Vincent JJ, Monroy MC, Stevens L. Chagas disease vector blood meal sources identified by protein mass spectrometry. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189647. [PMID: 29232402 PMCID: PMC5726658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a complex vector borne parasitic disease involving blood feeding Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) insects, also known as kissing bugs, and the vertebrates they feed on. This disease has tremendous impacts on millions of people and is a global health problem. The etiological agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), is deposited on the mammalian host in the insect’s feces during a blood meal, and enters the host’s blood stream through mucous membranes or a break in the skin. Identifying the blood meal sources of triatomine vectors is critical in understanding Chagas disease transmission dynamics, can lead to identification of other vertebrates important in the transmission cycle, and aids management decisions. The latter is particularly important as there is little in the way of effective therapeutics for Chagas disease. Several techniques, mostly DNA-based, are available for blood meal identification. However, further methods are needed, particularly when sample conditions lead to low-quality DNA or to assess the risk of human cross-contamination. We demonstrate a proteomics-based approach, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify host-specific hemoglobin peptides for blood meal identification in mouse blood control samples and apply LC-MS/MS for the first time to Triatoma dimidiata insect vectors, tracing blood sources to species. In contrast to most proteins, hemoglobin, stabilized by iron, is incredibly stable even being preserved through geologic time. We compared blood stored with and without an anticoagulant and examined field-collected insect specimens stored in suboptimal conditions such as at room temperature for long periods of time. To our knowledge, this is the first study using LC-MS/MS on field-collected arthropod disease vectors to identify blood meal composition, and where blood meal identification was confirmed with more traditional DNA-based methods. We also demonstrate the potential of synthetic peptide standards to estimate relative amounts of hemoglobin acquired when insects feed on multiple blood sources. These LC-MS/MS methods can contribute to developing Ecohealth control strategies for Chagas disease transmission and can be applied to other arthropod disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith I. Keller
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Bryan A. Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LS); (BAB)
| | - Riley M. St. Clair
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - James J. Vincent
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - M. Carlota Monroy
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LS); (BAB)
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15
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Pennington PM, Messenger LA, Reina J, Juárez JG, Lawrence GG, Dotson EM, Llewellyn MS, Cordón-Rosales C. The Chagas disease domestic transmission cycle in Guatemala: Parasite-vector switches and lack of mitochondrial co-diversification between Triatoma dimidiata and Trypanosoma cruzi subpopulations suggest non-vectorial parasite dispersal across the Motagua valley. Acta Trop 2015. [PMID: 26215126 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Parasites transmitted by insects must adapt to their vectors and reservoirs. Chagas disease, an American zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted by several species of triatomines. In Central America, Triatoma dimidiata is a widely dispersed vector found in sylvatic and domestic habitats, with distinct populations across the endemic region of Guatemala. Our aim was to test the strength of association between vector and parasite genetic divergence in domestic environments. Microsatellite (MS) loci were used to characterize parasites isolated from T. dimidiata (n=112) collected in domestic environments. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed between parasites north and south of the Motagua Valley, an ancient biogeographic barrier (FST 0.138, p=0.009). Slightly reduced genotypic diversity and increased heterozygosity in the north (Allelic richness (Ar)=1.00-6.05, FIS -0.03) compared to the south (Ar=1.47-6.30, FIS 0.022) suggest either a selective or demographic process during parasite dispersal. Based on parasite genotypes and geographic distribution, 15 vector specimens and their parasite isolates were selected for mitochondrial co-diversification analysis. Genetic variability and phylogenetic congruence were determined with mitochondrial DNA sequences (10 parasite maxicircle gene fragments and triatomine ND4+CYT b). A Mantel test as well as phylogenetic, network and principal coordinates analyses supported at least three T. dimidiata haplogroups separated by geographic distance across the Motagua Valley. Maxicircle sequences showed low T. cruzi genetic variability (π nucleotide diversity 0.00098) with no evidence of co-diversification with the vector, having multiple host switches across the valley. Sylvatic Didelphis marsupialis captured across the Motagua Valley were found to be infected with T. cruzi strains sharing MS genotypes with parasites isolated from domiciliated triatomines. The current parasite distribution in domestic environments can be explained by multiple parasite-host switches between vector populations and selection or bottleneck processes across the Motagua Valley, with a possible role for didelphids in domestic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela M Pennington
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Centro de Estudios en Salud, 18 Avenida 11-95 Z. 15 VH III, Guatemala, Guatemala.
| | - Louisa Alexandra Messenger
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (University of London), Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Jeffrey Reina
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Centro de Estudios en Salud, 18 Avenida 11-95 Z. 15 VH III, Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - José G Juárez
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Centro de Estudios en Salud, 18 Avenida 11-95 Z. 15 VH III, Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Gena G Lawrence
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Ellen M Dotson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Martin S Llewellyn
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences,University of Wales, Bangor, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Celia Cordón-Rosales
- Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Centro de Estudios en Salud, 18 Avenida 11-95 Z. 15 VH III, Guatemala, Guatemala.
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16
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Ramsey JM, Peterson AT, Carmona-Castro O, Moo-Llanes DA, Nakazawa Y, Butrick M, Tun-Ku E, la Cruz-Félix KD, Ibarra-Cerdeña CN. Atlas of Mexican Triatominae (Reduviidae: Hemiptera) and vector transmission of Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:339-52. [PMID: 25993505 PMCID: PMC4489471 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760140404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is one of the most important yet neglected parasitic diseases in
Mexico and is transmitted by Triatominae. Nineteen of the 31 Mexican triatomine
species have been consistently found to invade human houses and all have been found
to be naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The present paper
aims to produce a state-of-knowledge atlas of Mexican triatomines and analyse their
geographic associations with T. cruzi, human demographics and
landscape modification. Ecological niche models (ENMs) were constructed for the 19
species with more than 10 records in North America, as well as for T.
cruzi. The 2010 Mexican national census and the 2007 National Forestry
Inventory were used to analyse overlap patterns with ENMs. Niche breadth was greatest
in species from the semiarid Nearctic Region, whereas species richness was associated
with topographic heterogeneity in the Neotropical Region, particularly along the
Pacific Coast. Three species, Triatoma longipennis, Triatoma
mexicana and Triatoma barberi, overlapped with the
greatest numbers of human communities, but these communities had the lowest
rural/urban population ratios. Triatomine vectors have urbanised in most regions,
demonstrating a high tolerance to human-modified habitats and broadened historical
ranges, exposing more than 88% of the Mexican population and leaving few areas in
Mexico without the potential for T. cruzi transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine M Ramsey
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | | | - Oscar Carmona-Castro
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - David A Moo-Llanes
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | | | - Morgan Butrick
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Ezequiel Tun-Ku
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Keynes de la Cruz-Félix
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, México
| | - Carlos N Ibarra-Cerdeña
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, México
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17
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Lucero DE, Ribera W, Pizarro JC, Plaza C, Gordon LW, Peña R, Morrissey LA, Rizzo DM, Stevens L. Sources of blood meals of sylvatic Triatoma guasayana near Zurima, Bolivia, assayed with qPCR and 12S cloning. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3365. [PMID: 25474154 PMCID: PMC4256209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In this study we compared the utility of two molecular biology techniques, cloning of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and hydrolysis probe-based qPCR, to identify blood meal sources of sylvatic Chagas disease insect vectors collected with live-bait mouse traps (also known as Noireau traps). Fourteen T. guasayana were collected from six georeferenced trap locations in the Andean highlands of the department of Chuquisaca, Bolivia. Methodology/Principal Findings We detected four blood meals sources with the cloning assay: seven samples were positive for human (Homo sapiens), five for chicken (Gallus gallus) and unicolored blackbird (Agelasticus cyanopus), and one for opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Using the qPCR assay we detected chicken (13 vectors), and human (14 vectors) blood meals as well as an additional blood meal source, Canis sp. (4 vectors). Conclusions/Significance We show that cloning of 12S PCR products, which avoids bias associated with developing primers based on a priori knowledge, detected blood meal sources not previously considered and that species-specific qPCR is more sensitive. All samples identified as positive for a specific blood meal source by the cloning assay were also positive by qPCR. However, not all samples positive by qPCR were positive by cloning. We show the power of combining the cloning assay with the highly sensitive hydrolysis probe-based qPCR assay provides a more complete picture of blood meal sources for insect disease vectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 7 to 8 million people are currently infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. The WHO recommends insect vector control as the primary prevention method; and insecticide spraying is the most commonly used intervention technique. Sylvatic insect vectors are a special concern because they are a source of reinfestation after insecticides have been applied to living quarters (domestic) and immediate surroundings (peridomestic). To better understand sylvatic insect vector movement, we used two molecular biology techniques to detect the blood meal sources of sylvatic insect vectors. The first technique, cloning of 12S PCR products, allows us to cast a wide net and detect blood meal sources with no previous knowledge of vertebrates or mammals in the study site. After acquiring knowledge of vertebrates in the study site (either through the aforementioned cloning technique, literature review or survey of the area), the second technique, the species-specific hydrolysis probe-based qPCR provides a highly sensitive assay for particular taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Lucero
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Vector-borne Diseases Section, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Wilma Ribera
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Juan Carlos Pizarro
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Carlos Plaza
- Departamento de Entomología, Servicio Departamental de Salud, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Levi W. Gordon
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Reynaldo Peña
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Leslie A. Morrissey
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Donna M. Rizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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