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Barnabé C, Brenière SF, Santillán-Guayasamín S, Douzery EJP, Waleckx E. Revisiting gene typing and phylogeny of Trypanosoma cruzi reference strains: Comparison of the relevance of mitochondrial DNA, single-copy nuclear DNA, and the intergenic region of mini-exon gene. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 115:105504. [PMID: 37739149 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a widespread neglected disease in Latin America. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of the disease, is currently subdivided into six DTUs (discrete typing units) named TcI-TcVI, and although no clear association has been found between parasite genetics and different clinical outcomes of the disease or different transmission cycles, genetic characterization of T. cruzi strains remains crucial for integrated epidemiological studies. Numerous markers have been used for this purpose, although without consensus. These include mitochondrial genes, single or multiple-copy nuclear genes, ribosomal RNA genes, and the intergenic region of the repeated mini-exon gene. To increase our knowledge of these gene sequences and their usefulness for strain typing, we sequenced fragments of three mitochondrial genes, nine single-copy nuclear genes, and the repeated intergenic part of the mini-exon gene by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) on a sample constituted of 16 strains representative of T. cruzi genetic diversity, to which we added the corresponding genetic data of the 38 T. cruzi genomes fully sequenced until 2022. Our results show that single-copy nuclear genes remain the gold standard for characterizing T. cruzi strains; the phylogenetic tree from concatenated genes (3959 bp) confirms the six DTUs previously recognized and provides additional information about the alleles present in the hybrid strains. In the tree built from the three mitochondrial concatenated genes (1274 bp), three main clusters are identified, including one with TcIII, TcIV, TcV, and TcVI DTUs which are not separated. Nevertheless, mitochondrial markers remain necessary for detecting introgression and heteroplasmy. The phylogenetic tree built from the sequence alignment of the repeated mini-exon gene fragment (327 bp) displayed six clusters, but only TcI was associated with a single cluster. The sequences obtained from strains belonging to the other DTUs were scattered into different clusters. Therefore, while the mini-exon marker may bring, for some biological samples, some advantages in terms of sensibility due to its repeated nature, mini-exon sequences must be used with caution and, when possible, avoided for T. cruzi typing and phylogenetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Barnabé
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Simone Frédérique Brenière
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Soledad Santillán-Guayasamín
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Emmanuel J P Douzery
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico; ACCyC, Asociación Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento, A. C, Orizaba, Mexico.
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Paulina OM, Aracely LM, Jaime LD, Jesús TM, Alberto DGJ, Angel RL. Identification of a triatomine infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in an urban area of the state of Veracruz, Mexico: A comprehensive study. Zoonoses Public Health 2023. [PMID: 36915955 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, considered a neglected disease, was initially confined to rural localities in endemic areas; however, in recent years through the process of urbanization and migration of infected people, the disease is gaining importance in urban environments. The presence of the vector in urban areas in most cases is due to the passive transport of vectors, but recently, its presence seems to be linked to vector adaptation processes associated with climate change. This paper reports the occurrence of an infected triatomine in the peridomicile of a house in an urban area of Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico, where the species found is described, the molecular characteristics and resistance to BZN and NFX of the Trypanosoma cruzi isolate obtained, as well as serological data of the dwelling inhabitants. These urban disease scenarios make it possible to generate new scientific knowledge and enable the creation of new control strategies for Chagas disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ochoa-Martínez Paulina
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico.,LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Mexico
| | - López-Monteon Aracely
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Mexico.,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Mexico
| | - López-Domínguez Jaime
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Mexico.,Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica de Huatusco, Huatusco de Chicuellar, Mexico
| | - Torres-Montero Jesús
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Mexico
| | | | - Ramos-Ligonio Angel
- LADISER Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Mexico.,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Mexico
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Depickère S, Villacís AG, Santillán-Guayasamín S, Callapa Rafael JE, Brenière SF, Revollo Zepita S. Rhodnius (Stål, 1859) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) genus in Bolivian Amazonia: a risk for human populations? PARASITES & VECTORS 2022; 15:307. [PMID: 36038947 PMCID: PMC9426019 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05423-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Chagas disease, one of the most important neglected tropical diseases in the countries of Latin America, is considered to be a particularly important public health concern in the Amazon region due to increases in the number of outbreaks of acute Chagas disease and increased local transmission in the last 20 years. However, relative to other countries, in Bolivia there is little information available on its transmission in the Amazon region. The aim of this study was to investigate the infestation of palm trees, the main habitat of Triatominae in the region, in several localities, to evaluate the danger they represent to inhabitants. Methods Triatominae were collected using live bait traps left overnight in six localities in Pando and Beni Departments, Bolivia. DNA extraction and sequencing were used to establish the Triatominae species (Cytb, 16S and 28S-D2 gene fragments), and the blood meal sources (Cytb fragment). Trypanosoma sp. infection was analyzed by sequencing gene fragments (GPX, GPI, HMCOAR, LAP, PDH and COII) or by mini-exon multiplex PCR. Results A total of 325 Rhodnius were captured (97.3% of nymphs) from the 1200 traps placed in 238 palm trees and 32 burrows/ground holes. Sequence analyses on DNA extracted from 114 insects and phylogeny analysis identified two triatomine species: Rhodnius stali (17%) and Rhodnius montenegrensis (equated to Rhodnius robustus II, 83%). These were found in palm trees of the genera Attalea (69%), Astrocaryum (13%), Copernicia (12%), Euterpe (2%) and Acrocomia (1%). The infection rate was around 30% (165 analyzed insects), with 90% of analyzed insects infected by Trypanosoma cruzi (only the TcI discrete typing unit was detected), 3% infected by Trypanosoma rangeli (first time found in Bolivian Triatominae) and 7% infected by mixed T. cruzi (TcI)-T. rangeli. Rhodnius specimens fed on Didelphidae, rodents, gecko and humans. Conclusions The results of this study highlight the epidemiological importance of Rhodnius in the Bolivian Amazon region. The huge geographical distribution of Rhodnius and their proximity to the human dwellings, high infection rate and frequent meals on the human population highlight a risk of transmission of Chagas disease in the region. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05423-3.
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Jaime LD, Aracely LM, Paulina OM, Dumonteil E, Barnabé C, Waleckx E, Hernández-Giles RG, Ramos-Ligonio A. Molecular Characterization of Four Mexican Isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi and Their Profile Susceptibility to Nifurtimox. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1584-1593. [PMID: 36029434 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00608-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of this study was to molecularly characterize Mexican isolates of T. cruzi obtained from infected triatomine bugs (the vectors of T. cruzi) and to evaluate their susceptibility to Nifurtimox (NFX). METHODS Three isolates obtained from Triatoma dimidiata (collected in the State of Veracruz) and one isolate obtained from Triatoma bassolsae (collected in the State of Puebla) were molecularly characterized and the expression of genes associated with natural resistance to NFX was analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS Molecular characterization by PCR showed that isolates Zn3, Zn5, and SRB1 belong to the DTU TcI, while isolate Sum3 belongs to TcIV. The latter was also confirmed by sequencing of mitochondrial genes. Isolate Zn5 was the most sensitive to treatment with NFX (IC50, 6.8 μM), isolates SRB1 and Zn3 were partially resistant (IC50, 12.8 μM and 12.7 μM) and isolate Sum3 showed a high degree of resistance to NFX (IC50, 21.4 µM). We also found an association between decreased NTR1 or OYE gene expression with NFX resistance. CONCLUSION Our results also evidenced a high variability in the susceptibility to NFX of these T. cruzi isolates Central and Southeastern Mexico, suggesting the presence of naturally resistant isolates circulating in the country. These results have important implications for defining treatment policies for patients with Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- López-Domínguez Jaime
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - López-Monteon Aracely
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Ochoa-Martínez Paulina
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Christian Barnabé
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Rubén Gustavo Hernández-Giles
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Maestría en Ciencias en Procesos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Angel Ramos-Ligonio
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. .,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Molecular characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs of the triatomine species in a Chagas disease endemic area. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:64-71. [PMID: 35299926 PMCID: PMC8901897 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-021-01418-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical infection with great public health importance. This protozoan has triatomine insects as vector but may also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplants, ingestion of contaminated food, or congenitally. It has a heterogeneous population classified into Discrete Typing Units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and TcBat. The aim of this study was to molecularly characterize the DTUs of T. cruzi in triatomines from a Chagas disease endemic area in Northeastern Brazil. Triatomines were collected and the gut content was microscopically analyzed to investigate the presence of trypanosomatid flagellates. In addition, digestive tracts of some specimens were dissected and molecularly analyzed through PCR for Trypanosoma spp. and sequencing. PCR positive samples were further submitted to a multiplex PCR for DTUs of T. cruzi. A total of 117 triatomines were collected, 93.16% being in intradomicile and 6.84% in peridomicile environments. Insects were identified as Panstrongylus lutzi (37.60%), Triatoma pseudomaculata (26.50%), Triatoma brasiliensis (23.08%) and Panstrongylus megistus (12.82%). The specimens herein analyzed presented infection rates by T. cruzi of 5.49% and 12.09% in parasitological and molecular examinations, respectively. Multiplex PCR screening revealed 70.59% of the TcI genotype, detected in all triatomine species identified in this study and 29.41% of the DTU TcIII/TcIV detected in P. megistus and P. lutzi. T. cruzi infect triatomines in intradomicile and peridomicile environments, which brings attention to the risk of human infections and to the importance of the implementation of surveillance and entomological control actions.
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Barros FDNL, Sampaio Júnior FD, Costa SDM, Farias DMD, Moura MAO, Bezerra Júnior PS, Góes-Cavalcante G, Scofield A. First report of natural infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in secretions of the scent glands and myocardium of Philander opossum (Marsupialia: Didelphidae): Parasitological and clinicopathological findings. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 22:100463. [PMID: 33308748 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis and can infect humans and different species of domestic and wild animals. The marsupials are important wild reservoirs of T. cruzi, aiding in the maintenance of this agent in sylvatic and peri-domestic environments. The objective of this study was to report the parasitological and clinicopathological findings of a natural infection by T. cruzi in one specimen of Philander opossum that originated from the Brazilian Amazon. The animal was captured in a forest fragment near a rural community with reports of human Chagas disease. T. cruzi infection was diagnosed by blood smear examinations, blood culture, scent glands secretion culture, histopathological examination, and nested-PCR. Positive samples were subjected to PCR to characterize the discrete typing units (DTUs) of T. cruzi. Characteristic trypomastigotes of T. cruzi were observed in the blood smear, and spheromastigotes, epimastigotes, and trypomastigotes were visualized in the cultures. Non-suppurative myocarditis associated with amastigote clusters was the principal histopathological finding. DNA from T. cruzi was detected in samples of blood, blood cultures, scent glands secretion cultures, cardiac muscles, and the spleen. The TcI and the TcII/V/VI group DTUs were detected in blood culture and scent glands secretion cultures. Infection by T. cruzi can cause myocarditis in P. opossum and DTUs TcI and TcII/V/VI group mixed infection can be detected in the acute phase. P. opossum can be a source of infection for triatomine vectors and has the potential source for direct transmission of T. cruzi by secretions from the scent glands. These data are important to improve the understanding of the complex enzootic transmission cycle of T. cruzi in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia de Nazaré Leite Barros
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Francisco Dantas Sampaio Júnior
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Sandra de Mamedes Costa
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Diana Maria de Farias
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Márcio Alan Oliveira Moura
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Pedro Soares Bezerra Júnior
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Góes-Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Scofield
- Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Graduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil.
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Pérez-Cascales E, Sossa-Soruco VM, Brenière SF, Depickère S. Reinfestation with Triatoma infestans despite vigilance efforts in the municipality of Saipina, Santa Cruz, Bolivia: Situational description two months after fumigation. Acta Trop 2020; 203:105292. [PMID: 31816321 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is still a major public health problem in Bolivia mostly due to the recurrent reinfestation of houses by Triatoma infestans. The current study evaluated the danger of reinfesting bugs by determining their infection rate, the genetic group (discrete typing unit, DTU) of Trypanosoma cruzi that infect them, and the possible association of recurrent infestation with environmental variables. In the municipality of Saipina, 254 km from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 57 dwellings with reinfestation background and the latest fumigation 1 or 2 months before were actively searched for triatomines. The infection of the bugs and the DTUs of T. cruzi were determined with PCR methods. Microenvironmental variables were estimated surfaces of the different ground covers around each dwelling. Principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression were applied to the data set. Among the houses visited, 54.4% were still infested with T. infestans, and 201 T. infestans were captured, 56% indoors and 43.8% outdoors. The infection rate with T. cruzi was 24%. The TcII/TcV/TcVI group of DTUs was 80%, while TcI and TcIII/TcIV had equal values of 10%. No significant differences of DTU distribution were found between nymphs and adults, females and males, nor between intradomicile and peridomicile areas. PCA identified urban and nonurban dwellings: the former was associated with intradomicile reinfestation by nymphs. From the logistic regression analyses, the intradomicile reinfestation tended to be associated with the peridomicile around dwellings. In contrast, peridomicile infestation was more associated with sylvatic areas. Interestingly, the presence of fields (pasture, crops) around the dwelling might have a protective role regarding reinfestation. The results show that vector control actions fail, and the inhabitants of the municipality of Saipina continue to be exposed to T. cruzi transmission risk.
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Brandão EMV, Xavier SCC, Carvalhaes JG, D’Andrea PS, Lemos FG, Azevedo FC, Cássia-Pires R, Jansen AM, Roque ALR. Trypanosomatids in Small Mammals of an Agroecosystem in Central Brazil: Another Piece in the Puzzle of Parasite Transmission in an Anthropogenic Landscape. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040190. [PMID: 31615153 PMCID: PMC6963188 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We surveyed infection by Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp. in small wild mammals from Cumari, Goiás State aiming to investigate the diversity of trypanosomatid in a modified landscape of the Brazilian Cerrado (and possible infection overlapping with canids from the same area). Blood, skin, spleen, and liver samples were collected for parasitological, serological, and molecular assays. Gracilinanus agilis was the most abundant species (N = 70; 48.6%) and it was the only one with patent parasitemia. Characterization by mini-exon and 18SrDNA targets were achieved in 7/10 hemocultures with positive fresh blood examination, which confirmed the T. cruzi infection by Discrete Typing Units (DTU) TcI in single (N = 2) and mixed infections with other DTUs (N = 5). T. rangeli and T. dionisii were detected in skin fragments from Didelphis albiventris and Oecomys cleberi, respectively. G. agilis were found to be infected by L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis, while Leishmania sp. DNA was detected in the liver of Oligoryzomys nigripes and Calomys expulsus. Subpatent infection by T. cruzi and Leishmania sp. was serologically detected in 15% and 9% of the small mammal fauna, respectively. Small mammals from Cumari are included in T. cruzi and Leshmania spp. transmission cycles, showing a higher diversity of trypanosomatid species and/or genotypes than that observed in canids of the same agroecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elida M. V. Brandão
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (E.M.V.B.); (S.C.C.X.); (A.M.J.)
| | - Samanta C. C. Xavier
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (E.M.V.B.); (S.C.C.X.); (A.M.J.)
| | - Jeiel G. Carvalhaes
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (J.G.C.); (P.S.D.)
| | - Paulo S. D’Andrea
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (J.G.C.); (P.S.D.)
| | - Frederico G. Lemos
- Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado (PCMC)–Unidade Acadêmica Especial de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás/Regional Catalão, Catalão, GO 75704020, Brasil; (F.G.L.); (F.C.A.)
| | - Fernanda C. Azevedo
- Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado (PCMC)–Unidade Acadêmica Especial de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás/Regional Catalão, Catalão, GO 75704020, Brasil; (F.G.L.); (F.C.A.)
| | - Renata Cássia-Pires
- Laboratório de Biologia de Parasitos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN 59012570, Brasil;
| | - Ana M. Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (E.M.V.B.); (S.C.C.X.); (A.M.J.)
| | - André L. R. Roque
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040900, Brasil; (E.M.V.B.); (S.C.C.X.); (A.M.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-21-2562-1416; Fax: +55-21-2562-1609
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Esper HR, Freitas VLTD, Assy JGPL, Shimoda EY, Berreta OCP, Lopes MH, França FOS. Fatal evolution of acute Chagas disease in a child from Northern Brazil: factors that determine poor prognosis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2019; 61:e27. [PMID: 31066753 PMCID: PMC6502456 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201961027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. Nowadays, the transmission in Brazil occurs mainly by oral ingestion of contaminated food that has been associated with more severe clinical manifestations. We report a case of Acute Chagas disease caused by oral transmission in a child from Northern Brazil. In the hospital admission, physical examination showed tachycardia, hepatomegaly, bipalpebral edema and anasarca. Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes were found in microscopy during blood cell count. Twenty-three days before hospitalization, the child had ingested the "bacaba palm fruit's wine". Even with the appropriate diagnosis and starting of treatment, she did not survive. Quantitative analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in a blood sample resulted in 54,053.42 parasite equivalents/mL and the DTU TcIV was identified. The outcome may have been determined by several factors, including the delay to seek a medical service beyond the high parasitemia, detected by qPCR. DTU TcIV could also have influenced the natural history of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Rangel Esper
- Hospital Municipal, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Erika Yoshie Shimoda
- Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Imunologia (LIM 48), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Olivia Campos Pinheiro Berreta
- Hospital Municipal, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marta Heloisa Lopes
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Imunologia (LIM 48), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco Oscar Siqueira França
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Imunologia (LIM 48), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Majeau A, Herrera C, Dumonteil E. An Improved Approach to Trypanosoma cruzi Molecular Genotyping by Next-Generation Sequencing of the Mini-exon Gene. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:47-60. [PMID: 30868518 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite usually transmitted by triatomines. As the parasite can infect all mammals and the vectors can be found across a broad range of ecologies, transmission cycles are quite complex, and extensive genetic diversity exists within the parasite population. Seven main evolutionary lineages, named "discrete typing units," have been described, but a large amount of intra-lineage heterogeneity is also observed. To date, typing methods used to elucidate both inter-lineage and intra-lineage diversity have faced limitations, with some approaches unable to determine all levels of diversity and others requiring investigation of numerous markers and often the selective process of isolation of live parasites. Here, we present a method for parasite genotyping using next-generation sequencing of the mini-exon gene marker, to assign lineage and describe intra-lineage diversity directly from biological samples. This approach is sensitive enough to detect the presence of multiclonal infections and low-frequency parasite genotypes within this context, providing an unprecedented description of T. cruzi assemblages in hosts and vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Majeau
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Barros JHS, Xavier SCC, Bilac D, Lima VS, Dario MA, Jansen AM. Identification of novel mammalian hosts and Brazilian biome geographic distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi TcIII and TcIV. Acta Trop 2017; 172:173-179. [PMID: 28499908 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasitic protozoan responsible for Chagas disease. Seven different Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) of T. cruzi are currently identified in nature: TcI-TcVI, and TcBat whose distribution patterns in nature, hosts/reservoirs and eco-epidemiological importance are still little known. Here, we present novel data on the geographic distribution and diversity of mammalian hosts and vectors of T. cruzi DTUs TcIII and TcIV. In this study, we analyzed 61 T. cruzi isolates obtained from 18 species of mammals (five orders) and two Hemiptera genera. Samples were collected from five Brazilian biomes (Pantanal, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Rainforest, and Amazon) previously characterized as Z3 or mixed infection (TcI-Z3) by mini-exon gene PCR. To identify TcIII and TcIV genotypes, we applied restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to the PCR-amplified histone 3 gene. DTUs TcIII and TcIV were identified in single and mixed infections from wide dispersion throughout five Brazilian biomes studied, with TcIV being the most common. Pantanal was the biome that displayed the largest number of samples characterized as TcIII and TcIV in single and mixed infections, followed by Atlantic Rainforest and Amazon. Species from the Didelphimorphia order displayed the highest frequency of infection and were found in all five biomes. We report, for the first time, the infection of a species of the Artiodactyla order by DTU TcIII. In addition, we describe new host species: five mammals (marsupials and rodents) and two genera of Hemiptera. Our data indicate that DTUs TcIII and TcIV are more widespread and infect a larger number of mammalian species than previously thought. In addition, they are transmitted in restricted foci and cycles, but in different microhabitats and areas with distinct ecological profiles. Finally, we show that DTUs TcIII and TcIV do not present any specific association with biomes or host species.
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Lardeux F, Torrico G, Aliaga C. Calculation of the ELISA's cut-off based on the change-point analysis method for detection of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Bolivian dogs in the absence of controls. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 111:501-4. [PMID: 27384081 PMCID: PMC4981115 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In ELISAs, sera of individuals infected by Trypanosoma cruzi show absorbance values above a cut-off value. The cut-off is generally computed by means of formulas that need absorbance readings of negative (and sometimes positive) controls, which are included in the titer plates amongst the unknown samples. When no controls are available, other techniques should be employed such as change-point analysis. The method was applied to Bolivian dog sera processed by ELISA to diagnose T. cruzi infection. In each titer plate, the change-point analysis estimated a step point which correctly discriminated among known positive and known negative sera, unlike some of the six usual cut-off formulas tested. To analyse the ELISAs results, the change-point method was as good as the usual cut-off formula of the form “mean + 3 standard deviation of negative controls”. Change-point analysis is therefore an efficient alternative method to analyse ELISA absorbance values when no controls are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lardeux
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, La Paz, Bolivia.,Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Gino Torrico
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, La Paz, Bolivia.,Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Claudia Aliaga
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, La Paz, Bolivia.,Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud, La Paz, Bolivia
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Lardeux F, Aliaga C, Depickère S. Bias due to methods of parasite detection when estimating prevalence of infection of Triatoma infestans by Trypanosoma cruzi. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2016; 41:285-291. [PMID: 27860015 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to quantify the bias from parasite detection methods in the estimation of the prevalence of infection of Triatoma infestans by Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. Three common protocols that detect T. cruzi in a sample of 640 wild-caught T. infestans were compared: (1) the microscopic observation of insect fecal droplets, (2) a PCR protocol targeting mini-exon genes of T. cruzi (MeM-PCR), and (3) a PCR protocol targeting a satellite repeated unit of the parasite. Agreement among protocols was computed using Krippendorff Kα. The sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of each protocol was estimated using latent class models. The PCR protocols were more sensitive (Se > 0.97) than microscopy (Se = 0.53) giving a prevalence of infection of 17-18%, twice as high as microscopy. Microscopy may not be as specific as PCR if Trypanosomatid-like organisms make up a high proportion of the sample. For small T. infestans, microscopy is not efficient, giving a prevalence of 1.5% when PCR techniques gave 10.7%. The PCR techniques were in agreement (Kα = 0.94) but not with microscopy (Kα never significant with both PCR techniques). Among the PCR protocols, the MeM-PCR was the most efficient (Se=1; Sp=1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Lardeux
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), C.P. 9214, La Paz, Bolivia
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR MIVEGEC, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - Claudia Aliaga
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), C.P. 9214, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), calle Rafaël Zubieta, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Stéphanie Depickère
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), C.P. 9214, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), calle Rafaël Zubieta, La Paz, Bolivia
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Dario MA, Rodrigues MS, Barros JHDS, Xavier SCDC, D’Andrea PS, Roque ALR, Jansen AM. Ecological scenario and Trypanosoma cruzi DTU characterization of a fatal acute Chagas disease case transmitted orally (Espírito Santo state, Brazil). Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:477. [PMID: 27580853 PMCID: PMC5006519 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1754-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi infection via oral route results in outbreaks or cases of acute Chagas disease (ACD) in different Brazilian regions and poses a novel epidemiological scenario. In the Espírito Santo state (southeastern Brazil), a fatal case of a patient with ACD led us to investigate the enzootic scenario to avoid the development of new cases. At the studied locality, Triatoma vitticeps exhibited high T. cruzi infection rates and frequently invaded residences. METHODS Sylvatic and domestic mammals in the Rio da Prata locality, where the ACD case occurred, and in four surrounding areas (Baia Nova, Buenos Aires, Santa Rita and Todos os Santos) were examined and underwent parasitological and serological tests. Triatomines were collected for a fecal material exam, culturing and mini-exon gene molecular characterization, followed by RFLP-PCR of H3/Alul. Paraffin-embedded cardiac tissue of a patient was washed with xylene to remove paraffin and DNA was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method. For genotype characterization, PCR was performed to amplify the 1f8, GPI and 18S rRNA genes. In the case of V7V8 SSU rRNA, the PCR products were molecularly cloned. PCR products were sequenced and compared to sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood method with 1000 bootstrap replicates was performed. RESULTS None of the animals showed positive hemocultures. Three rodents and two dogs showed signs of infection, as inferred from borderline serological titers. T. vitticeps was the only triatomine species identified and showed T. cruzi infection by DTUs TcI and TcIV. The analysis of cardiac tissue DNA showed mixed infection by T. cruzi (DTUs I, II, III and IV) and Trypanosoma dionisii. CONCLUSIONS Each case or outbreak of ACD should be analyzed as a particular epidemiological occurrence. The results indicated that mixed infections in humans may play a role in pathogenicity and may be more common than is currently recognized. Direct molecular characterization from biological samples is essential because this procedure avoids parasite selection. T. dionisii may under certain and unknown circumstances infect humans. The distribution of T. cruzi DTUS TcIII and TcIV in Brazilian biomes is broader than has been assumed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Augusta Dario
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Marina Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | | | | | - Paulo Sérgio D’Andrea
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Alves FM, de Lima JS, Rocha FL, Herrera HM, Mourão GDM, Jansen AM. Complexity and multi-factoriality of Trypanosoma cruzi sylvatic cycle in coatis, Nasua nasua (Procyonidae), and triatomine bugs in the Brazilian Pantanal. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:378. [PMID: 27370106 PMCID: PMC4930594 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma cruzi is dispersed in nature through many transmission mechanisms among a high diversity of vectors and mammalian species, representing particular behaviors and habitats. Thus, each locality has a unique set of conditions underlying the maintenance of this parasite in the wild. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the life-cycle of T. cruzi in free-ranging coatis from the central region of the Brazilian Pantanal using a multi-factorial approach. Methods Three methodological blocks were used in the present study: (i) We evaluated T. cruzi infection using serological (ELISA) and parasitological (hemoculture) tests in free-ranging coatis captured from October 2010 to March 2012. In addition, we characterized T. cruzi isolates as DTUs (Discrete Typing Units); (ii) We evaluated Trypanosoma infection in species of Triatoma and Rhodnius inhabiting coati arboreal nests from May to September 2012 using parasitological and molecular assays; and (iii) We analyzed a set of longitudinal data (from 2005 to 2012) concerning the effects of T. cruzi infection on this coati population. Herein, we investigated whether seasonality, host sex, and host age influence T. cruzi prevalence and patterns of infection. Results The 2010–2012 period presented high seroprevalence on coatis (72.0 % ELISA) and a high percentage of individuals with infectivity competence (20.5 % positive hemoculture). All isolates presented TcI band patterns, occurring in single (n = 3) and mixed infections (1 TcI/T. rangeli; 4 with undefined characterization). Both male and female individuals presented the same transmission potential, expressed as positive hemoculture, which was only detected in the summer. However, overall, the data (2005–2012) highlighted the importance of females for T. cruzi maintenance in the winter. Moreover, twenty-three (67.6 %) bugs from five coati nests (71.4 %) were infected with flagellated forms. Seventeen samples were characterized as T. cruzi (TcI and TcIII genotypes). Conclusion In the Pantanal region, T. cruzi is transmitted in a complex, multifactorial, dynamic and non-linear transmission web. The coati nests might be inserted in this web, acting as important transmission foci at the arboreal stratum to different mammal species with arboreal or scansorial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Moreira Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Juliane Saab de Lima
- Laboratório de Vida Selvagem, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa)/Pantanal, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
| | - Fabiana Lopes Rocha
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Monitoramento Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Paraíba-Campus Litoral, Rio Tinto, Brasil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
| | - Guilherme de Miranda Mourão
- Laboratório de Vida Selvagem, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa)/Pantanal, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
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Lima VDS, Xavier SCDC, Maldonado IFR, Roque ALR, Vicente ACP, Jansen AM. Expanding the knowledge of the geographic distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi TcII and TcV/TcVI genotypes in the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2014; 9:e116137. [PMID: 25551227 PMCID: PMC4281250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi infection is a complex sylvatic enzooty involving a wide range of animal species. Six discrete typing units (DTUs) of T. cruzi, named TcI to TcVI, are currently recognized. One unanswered question concerning the epidemiology of T. cruzi is the distribution pattern of TcII and hybrid DTUs in nature, including their virtual absence in the Brazilian Amazon, the current endemic area of Chagas disease in Brazil. Herein, we characterized biological samples that were collected in previous epizootiological studies carried out in the Amazon Basin in Brazil. We performed T. cruzi genotyping using four polymorphic genes to identify T. cruzi DTUs: mini-exon, 1f8, histone 3 and gp72. This analysis was conducted in the following biological samples: (i) two T. cruzi isolates obtained by culturing of stools from the triatomine species Rhodnius picttipes and (ii) five serum samples from dogs in which trypomastigotes were observed during fresh blood examination. We report for the first time the presence of TcII and hybrid DTUs (TcV/TcVI) in the Amazon region in mixed infections with TcI. Furthermore, sequencing of the constitutive gene, gp72, demonstrated diversity in TcII even within the same forest fragment. These data show that TcII is distributed in the five main Brazilian biomes and is likely more prevalent than currently described. It is very probable that there is no biological or ecological barrier to the transmission and establishment of any DTU in any biome in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valdirene dos Santos Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Irene Fabíola Roman Maldonado
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Paulo Vicente
- Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Microorganismos, Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Xavier SCDC, Roque ALR, Bilac D, de Araújo VAL, Neto SFDC, Lorosa ES, da Silva LFCF, Jansen AM. Distantiae transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: a new epidemiological feature of acute Chagas disease in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2878. [PMID: 24854494 PMCID: PMC4031066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The new epidemiological scenario of orally transmitted Chagas disease that has emerged in Brazil, and mainly in the Amazon region, needs to be addressed with a new and systematic focus. Belém, the capital of Pará state, reports the highest number of acute Chagas disease (ACD) cases associated with the consumption of açaí juice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The wild and domestic enzootic transmission cycles of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated in the two locations (Jurunas and Val-de Cães) that report the majority of the autochthonous cases of ACD in Belém city. Moreover, we evaluated the enzootic cycle on the three islands that provide most of the açaí fruit that is consumed in these localities. We employed parasitological and serological tests throughout to evaluate infectivity competence and exposure to T. cruzi. In Val-de-Cães, no wild mammal presented positive parasitological tests, and 56% seroprevalence was observed, with low serological titers. Three of 14 triatomines were found to be infected (TcI). This unexpected epidemiological picture does not explain the high number of autochthonous ACD cases. In Jurunas, the cases of ACD could not be autochthonous because of the absence of any enzootic cycle of T. cruzi. In contrast, in the 3 island areas from which the açaí fruit originates, 66.7% of wild mammals and two dogs displayed positive hemocultures, and 15.6% of triatomines were found to be infected by T. cruzi. Genotyping by mini-exon gene and PCR-RFLP (1f8/Akw21I) targeting revealed that the mammals and triatomines from the islands harbored TcI and Trypanosoma rangeli in single and mixed infections. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE These findings show that cases of Chagas disease in the urban area of Belém may be derived from infected triatomines coming together with the açaí fruits from distant islands. We term this new epidemiological feature of Chagas disease as "Distantiae transmission".
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Affiliation(s)
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniele Bilac
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Sócrates Fraga da Costa Neto
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elias Seixas Lorosa
- International and National Laboratory of Reference for Triatominae Taxonomy, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Barnabe C, Buitrago R, Bremond P, Aliaga C, Salas R, Vidaurre P, Herrera C, Cerqueira F, Bosseno MF, Waleckx E, Breniere SF. Putative panmixia in restricted populations of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from wild Triatoma infestans in Bolivia. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82269. [PMID: 24312410 PMCID: PMC3843716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is subdivided into six discrete typing units (DTUs; TcI-TcVI) of which TcI is ubiquitous and genetically highly variable. While clonality is the dominant mode of propagation, recombinant events play a significant evolutive role. Recently, foci of wild Triatoma infestans have been described in Bolivia, mainly infected by TcI. Hence, for the first time, we evaluated the level of genetic exchange within TcI natural potentially panmictic populations (single DTU, host, area and sampling time). Seventy-nine TcI stocks from wild T. infestans, belonging to six populations were characterized at eight microsatellite loci. For each population, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), linkage disequilibrium (LD), and presence of repeated multilocus genotypes (MLG) were analyzed by using a total of seven statistics, to test the null hypothesis of panmixia (H0). For three populations, none of the seven statistics allowed to rejecting H0; for another one the low size did not allow us to conclude, and for the two others the tests have given contradictory results. Interestingly, apparent panmixia was only observed in very restricted areas, and was not observed when grouping populations distant of only two kilometers or more. Nevertheless it is worth stressing that for the statistic tests of "HWE", in order to minimize the type I error (i. e. incorrect rejection of a true H0), we used the Bonferroni correction (BC) known to considerably increase the type II error ( i. e. failure to reject a false H0). For the other tests (LD and MLG), we did not use BC and the risk of type II error in these cases was acceptable. Thus, these results should be considered as a good indicator of the existence of panmixia in wild environment but this must be confirmed on larger samples to reduce the risk of type II error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Barnabe
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Rosio Buitrago
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Philippe Bremond
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Claudia Aliaga
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Renata Salas
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Pablo Vidaurre
- Servicio Departamental de Salud (SEDES) of La Paz, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Frédérique Cerqueira
- Plateforme Génomique Environnementale du Labex Centre "Méditerranéen Environnement Biodiversité", Séquençage – Génotypage, Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-France Bosseno
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Simone Frédérique Breniere
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2 - CNRS 5290 - IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
- Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Department of Entomology, La Paz, Bolivia
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19
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Risk of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi by wild Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Bolivia supported by the detection of human blood meals. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 19:141-4. [PMID: 23856437 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 06/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the food sources of Bolivian wild Triatoma infestans (the main vector of Chagas disease in this country), to assess the role of these populations in the epidemiological context of Chagas disease. Ninety-eight blood meals were identified by heteroduplex assay and sequencing. Most of them were from wild mammals but surprisingly 27 were from humans. This brings to light the occurrence of human-vector contacts at risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the wild environment by highly infected insects.
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20
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Rocha FL, Roque ALR, de Lima JS, Cheida CC, Lemos FG, de Azevedo FC, Arrais RC, Bilac D, Herrera HM, Mourão G, Jansen AM. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in neotropical wild carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora): at the top of the T. cruzi transmission chain. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67463. [PMID: 23861767 PMCID: PMC3701642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known on the role played by Neotropical wild carnivores in the Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles. We investigated T. cruzi infection in wild carnivores from three sites in Brazil through parasitological and serological tests. The seven carnivore species examined were infected by T. cruzi, but high parasitemias detectable by hemoculture were found only in two Procyonidae species. Genotyping by Mini-exon gene, PCR-RFLP (1f8/Akw21I) and kDNA genomic targets revealed that the raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) harbored TcI and the coatis (Nasua nasua) harbored TcI, TcII, TcIII-IV and Trypanosoma rangeli, in single and mixed infections, besides four T. cruzi isolates that displayed odd band patterns in the Mini-exon assay. These findings corroborate the coati can be a bioaccumulator of T. cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTU) and may act as a transmission hub, a connection point joining sylvatic transmission cycles within terrestrial and arboreal mammals and vectors. Also, the odd band patterns observed in coatis' isolates reinforce that T. cruzi diversity might be much higher than currently acknowledged. Additionally, we assembled our data with T. cruzi infection on Neotropical carnivores' literature records to provide a comprehensive analysis of the infection patterns among distinct carnivore species, especially considering their ecological traits and phylogeny. Altogether, fifteen Neotropical carnivore species were found naturally infected by T. cruzi. Species diet was associated with T. cruzi infection rates, supporting the hypothesis that predator-prey links are important mechanisms for T. cruzi maintenance and dispersion in the wild. Distinct T. cruzi infection patterns across carnivore species and study sites were notable. Musteloidea species consistently exhibit high parasitemias in different studies which indicate their high infectivity potential. Mesocarnivores that feed on both invertebrates and mammals, including the coati, a host that can be bioaccumulator of T. cruzi DTU's, seem to take place at the top of the T. cruzi transmission chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Lopes Rocha
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Brasileiro para Medicina da Conservação, TRÍADE, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado, PCMC, Araguari, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Juliane Saab de Lima
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carolina Carvalho Cheida
- Programa de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem/Projeto Carnívoros, Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia (IPeC), Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Frederico Gemesio Lemos
- Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado, PCMC, Araguari, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Catalão, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Corassa Arrais
- Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado, PCMC, Araguari, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniele Bilac
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme Mourão
- Laboratório de Vida Selvagem, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Pantanal, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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21
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Herrera CP, Barnabé C, Brenière SF. Complex evolutionary pathways of the intergenic region of the mini-exon gene in Trypanosoma cruzi TcI: a possible ancient origin in the Gran Chaco and lack of strict genetic structuration. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 16:27-37. [PMID: 23380053 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/24/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The TcI discrete typing unit (DTU) of Trypanosoma cruzi is the most abundant and widely spread in the Americas. It is found in a wide range of triatomine and mammal species, which are distributed throughout the Americas in sylvatic and domestic environments. Previous studies based on intergenic sequences of the mini-exon gene (SL-IR) have identified five genotype groups within TcI. Based in the large number of sequences available in GenBank, the present study conducted an exhaustive revision of the sequence variability of the SL-IR within TcI using 244 sequences from isolates, cellular or molecular clones, from 11 Latin American countries. First, the evolutionary branching between strains was examined by analyzing only the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) deleting the microsatellite region and the gaps from the total alignment. Then the variability of the microsatellite region was re-analyzed alone using principal component analysis (PCA). After haplotype reconstruction using the PHASE algorithm, because of the presence of several ambiguous nucleotides in the SNP region, a total of 131 different haplotypes were obtained. The topology reveals how difficult it is to identify an obvious structure in TcI for most of the parameters examined. Somewhat genetic and geographical structures exist, but no structure was depicted with cycle and host origins. Indeed, the long-lasting evolution with possible recombination events, the occurrence of several waves of geographical dispersions (old and recent), and the high flow of strains between sylvatic and domestic cycles partially hide the major evolutionary trends within TcI. Moreover, we identified several problems in previous analyses, and concluded that in absence of supplementary studies of TcI phylogeny with other genetic markers, it is hazardous to use only the mini-exon intergenic region as a relevant marker of the substructure within TcI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Patricia Herrera
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2, CNRS 5290, IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, Av Hernando Siles 85290, CP 9214 La Paz, Bolivia.
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22
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Perez E, Monje M, Chang B, Buitrago R, Parrado R, Barnabé C, Noireau F, Brenière SF. Predominance of hybrid discrete typing units of Trypanosoma cruzi in domestic Triatoma infestans from the Bolivian Gran Chaco region. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2012; 13:116-23. [PMID: 23047136 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the Gran Chaco region the reinfestation by Triatoma infestans remains a major problem for control of Chagas disease. Trypanosoma cruzi the agent of the illness presents a broad genetic intraspecific variability which is poorly documented in the Bolivian Gran Chaco. This work presents the identification of the discrete typing units (DTUs) currently recognized for T. cruzi in T. infestans populations collected before and after residual insecticide spraying in four villages in this region. Before spraying, of 84 samples, the frequencies of the DTUs identified by using the multiplex PCR based on the non transcribed spacer of the mini-exon gene (MMPCR) were 0.21 for TcI, 0.70 for TcII/TcV/TcVI, and 0.17 for TcIII/TcIV and no significant difference was observed after spraying (76 samples). Moreover 13% of the total sample corresponds to T. infestans specimens with mixed infection of DTUs of which three were TcII/TcV/TcVI with TcIII/TcIV. The partial sequences of T. cruzi Gpi gene obtained from 14 PCR products agree the MMPCR DTU identification and allowed to precise the occurrence of TcIII, TcII and hybrid TcV/TcVI stocks which were not discriminated by the MMPCR. Given the high prevalence of hybrid stocks, the authors ask whether the recombination event at the origin of hybrids would have taken place in the Gran Chaco where the putative parents are also present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esdenka Perez
- MIVEGEC (Université de Montpellier 1 et 2, CNRS 5290, IRD 224), Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Representation in Bolivia, Av. Hernando Siles No. 5290, Esq Calle 7 Obrajes, CP 9214, La Paz, Bolivia
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23
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Cosentino RO, Agüero F. A simple strain typing assay for Trypanosoma cruzi: discrimination of major evolutionary lineages from a single amplification product. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1777. [PMID: 22860154 PMCID: PMC3409129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas' Disease. The parasite has a complex population structure, with six major evolutionary lineages, some of which have apparently resulted from ancestral hybridization events. Because there are important biological differences between these lineages, strain typing methods are essential to study the T. cruzi species. Currently, there are a number of typing methods available for T. cruzi, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, most of these methods are based on the amplification of a variable number of loci. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We present a simple typing assay for T. cruzi, based on the amplification of a single polymorphic locus: the TcSC5D gene. When analyzing sequences from this gene (a putative lathosterol/episterol oxidase) we observed a number of interesting polymorphic sites, including 1 tetra-allelic, and a number of informative tri- and bi-allelic SNPs. Furthermore, some of these SNPs were located within the recognition sequences of two commercially available restriction enzymes. A double digestion with these enzymes generates a unique restriction pattern that allows a simple classification of strains in six major groups, corresponding to DTUs TcI-TcIV, the recently proposed Tcbat lineage, and TcV/TcVI (as a group). Direct sequencing of the amplicon allows the classification of strains into seven groups, including the six currently recognized evolutionary lineages, by analyzing only a few discriminant polymorphic sites. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Based on these findings we propose a simple typing assay for T. cruzi that requires a single PCR amplification followed either by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, or direct sequencing. In the panel of strains tested, the sequencing-based method displays equivalent inter-lineage resolution to recent multi- locus sequence typing assays. Due to their simplicity and low cost, the proposed assays represent a good alternative to rapidly screen strain collections, providing the cornerstone for the development of robust typing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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24
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Monteiro WM, Magalhães LKC, de Sá ARN, Gomes ML, Toledo MJDO, Borges L, Pires I, de Oliveira Guerra JA, Silveira H, Barbosa MDGV. Trypanosoma cruzi IV causing outbreaks of acute Chagas disease and infections by different haplotypes in the Western Brazilian Amazonia. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41284. [PMID: 22848457 PMCID: PMC3405119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is an emergent tropical disease in the Brazilian Amazon Region, with an increasing number of cases in recent decades. In this region, the sylvatic cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission, which constitutes a reservoir of parasites that might be associated with specific molecular, epidemiological and clinical traits, has been little explored. The objective of this work is to genetically characterize stocks of T. cruzi from human cases, triatomines and reservoir mammals in the State of Amazonas, in the Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We analyzed 96 T. cruzi samples from four municipalities in distant locations of the State of Amazonas. Molecular characterization of isolated parasites from cultures in LIT medium or directly from vectors or whole human blood was performed by PCR of the non-transcribed spacer of the mini-exon and of the 24 S alfa ribosomal RNA gene, RFLP and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) gene, and by sequencing of the glucose-phosphate isomerase gene. The T. cruzi parasites from two outbreaks of acute disease were all typed as TcIV. One of the outbreaks was triggered by several haplotypes of the same DTU. TcIV also occurred in isolated cases and in Rhodnius robustus. Incongruence between mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies is likely to be indicative of historical genetic exchange events resulting in mitochondrial introgression between TcIII and TcIV DTUs from Western Brazilian Amazon. TcI predominated among triatomines and was the unique DTU infecting marsupials. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE DTU TcIV, rarely associated with human Chagas disease in other areas of the Amazon basin, is the major strain responsible for the human infections in the Western Brazilian Amazon, occurring in outbreaks as single or mixed infections by different haplotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of the State of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Laylah Kelre Costa Magalhães
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of the State of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Lara Borges
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Center for Malaria Studies, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isa Pires
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Center for Malaria Studies, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jorge Augusto de Oliveira Guerra
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of the State of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Henrique Silveira
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Center for Malaria Studies, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria das Graças Vale Barbosa
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- University of the State of Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Nilton Lins University Center, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
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Genetic characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs in wild Triatoma infestans from Bolivia: predominance of TcI. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1650. [PMID: 22685616 PMCID: PMC3368956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The current persistence of Triatoma infestans (one of the main vectors of Chagas disease) in some domestic areas could be related to re-colonization by wild populations which are increasingly reported. However, the infection rate and the genetic characterization of the Trypanosoma cruzi strains infecting these populations are very limited. Methodology/Principal Findings Of 333 wild Triatoma infestans specimens collected from north to south of a Chagas disease endemic area in Bolivia, we characterized 234 stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi using mini-exon multiplex PCR (MMPCR) and sequencing the glucose phosphate isomerase (Gpi) gene. Of the six genetic lineages (“discrete typing units”; DTU) (TcI-VI) presently recognized in T. cruzi, TcI (99.1%) was overdominant on TcIII (0.9%) in wild Andean T. infestans, which presented a 71.7% infection rate as evaluated by microscopy. In the lowlands (Bolivian Chaco), 17 “dark morph” T. infestans were analyzed. None of them were positive for parasites after microscopic examination, although one TcI stock and one TcII stock were identified using MMPCR and sequencing. Conclusions/Significance By exploring large-scale DTUs that infect the wild populations of T. infestans, this study opens the discussion on the origin of TcI and TcV DTUs that are predominant in domestic Bolivian cycles. Chagas disease is a neglected parasitic disease transmitted by bugs (vectors) and represents a serious health problem in the Americas. Although the transmission generally occurs in the houses where the bugs are living, wild populations of vectors are now considered a problem because these populations might enter the houses and recolonize them after eliminating of house populations by insecticide spraying. This is the case of the Southern countries where Triatoma infestans, the principal vector, transmits Trypanosoma cruzi the agent of the disease. This parasite presents a large genetic variability and it is important to know which T. cruzi genotypes are carried by the vectors. The authors found that in the wild T. infestans from the Bolivian Andean region, a principal group of genotype was circulating. In the lowlands (Bolivian Chaco), another additional genotype group was detected. Together with exploring at large scale which genotypes are infecting T. infestans wild populations, this study opens the discussion on the origin T. cruzi genotype groups. Also this study completes our basic knowledge on T. cruzi subspecific genetic variability, and therefore brings new tools for molecular epidemiology of Chagas disease.
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