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Characterization of triatomine bloodmeal sources using direct Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing methods. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10234. [PMID: 35715521 PMCID: PMC9205944 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14208-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of host associations of blood-feeding vectors may afford insights into managing disease systems and protecting public health. However, the ability of methods to distinguish bloodmeal sources varies widely. We used two methods—Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing—to target a 228 bp region of the vertebrate Cytochrome b gene and determine hosts fed upon by triatomines (n = 115) collected primarily in Texas, USA. Direct Sanger sequencing of PCR amplicons was successful for 36 samples (31%). Sanger sequencing revealed 15 distinct host species, which included humans, domestic animals (Canis lupus familiaris, Ovis aries, Gallus gallus, Bos taurus, Felis catus, and Capra hircus), wildlife (Rattus rattus, Incilius nebulifer, Sciurus carolinensis, Sciurus niger, and Odocoileus virginianus), and captive animals (Panthera tigris, Colobus spp., and Chelonoidis carbonaria). Samples sequenced by the Sanger method were also subjected to Illumina MiSeq amplicon deep sequencing. The amplicon deep sequencing results (average of 302,080 usable reads per sample) replicated the host community revealed using Sanger sequencing, and detected additional hosts in five triatomines (13.9%), including two additional blood sources (Procyon lotor and Bassariscus astutus). Up to four bloodmeal sources were detected in a single triatomine (I. nebulifer, Homo sapiens, C. lupus familiaris, and S. carolinensis). Enhanced understanding of vector-host-parasite networks may allow for integrated vector management programs focusing on highly-utilized and highly-infected host species.
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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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Beatty NL, Behrens-Bradley N, Love M, McCants F, Smith S, Schmidt JO, Hamer SA, Dorn PL, Ahmad N, Klotz SA. Rapid detection of human blood in triatomines (kissing bugs) utilizing a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay - A pilot study. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e190047. [PMID: 31166422 PMCID: PMC6543902 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We tested a rapid and specific immunochromatographic assay (that detects human blood in forensic samples) to determine if human blood was present in triatomines and their fecal excreta. METHODS We fed Triatoma rubida human blood (positive control) or mouse blood (negative control) and performed the assay on the abdominal contents and fecal excreta. Triatomine field specimens collected in and around human habitations and excreta were also tested. FINDINGS The assay was positive in triatomines fed human blood (N = 5/5) and fecal excreta from bugs known to have ingested human blood (N = 5/5). Bugs feeding on mice (N = 15/15) and their fecal excreta (N = 8/8) were negative for human blood. Human blood was detected in 47% (N = 23/49) triatomines, representing six different species, collected in the field. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The pilot study shows that this rapid and specific test may have applications in triatomine research. Further study is needed to determine the sensitivity of this assay compared to other well-established techniques, such as DNA- and proteomics-based methodologies and the assay’s application in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Beatty
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Nicole Behrens-Bradley
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Maria Love
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Finn McCants
- Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Shannon Smith
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Justin O Schmidt
- Southwestern Biological Institute, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Texas A&M University, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Patricia L Dorn
- Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Nafees Ahmad
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Stephen A Klotz
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
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Lima-Cordón RA, Stevens L, Solórzano Ortíz E, Rodas GA, Castellanos S, Rodas A, Abrego V, Zúniga Valeriano C, Monroy MC. Implementation science: Epidemiology and feeding profiles of the Chagas vector Triatoma dimidiata prior to Ecohealth intervention for three locations in Central America. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006952. [PMID: 30485265 PMCID: PMC6287883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ecohealth strategy is a multidisciplinary data-driven approach used to improve the quality of people's lives in Chagas disease endemic areas, such as regions of Central America. Chagas is a vector-borne disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Central America, the main vector is Triatoma dimidiata. Because successful implementation of the Ecohealth approach reduced home infestation in Jutiapa department, Guatemala, it was scaled-up to three localities, one in each of three Central American countries (Texistepeque, El Salvador; San Marcos de la Sierra, Honduras and Olopa, Guatemala). As a basis for the house improvement phase of the Ecohealth program, we determined if the localities differ in the role of sylvatic, synanthropic and domestic animals in the Chagas transmission cycle by measuring entomological indices, blood meal sources and parasite infection from vectors collected in and around houses. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with taxa specific primers to detect both, blood sources and parasite infection, was used to assess 71 T. dimidiata from Texistepeque, 84 from San Marcos de la Sierra and 568 from Olopa. Our results show that infestation (12.98%) and colonization (8.95%) indices were highest in Olopa; whereas T. cruzi prevalence was higher in Texistepeque and San Marcos de la Sierra (>40%) than Olopa (8%). The blood meal source profiles showed that in Olopa, opossum might be important in linking the sylvatic and domestic Chagas transmission cycle, whereas in San Marcos de la Sierra dogs play a major role in maintaining domestic transmission. For Texistepeque, bird was the major blood meal source followed by human. When examining the different life stages, we found that in Olopa, the proportion bugs infected with T. cruzi is higher in adults than nymphs. These findings highlight the importance of location-based recommendations for decreasing human-vector contact in the control of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Asunción Lima-Cordón
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- 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
| | - Elizabeth Solórzano Ortíz
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Gabriela Anaité Rodas
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Salvador Castellanos
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Antonieta Rodas
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Vianney Abrego
- Centro de Investigación y desarrollo en salud (CENSALUD-CID), Universidad de El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | | | - María Carlota Monroy
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
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