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Alvarez ACPC, Dale C, Galvão C. Geometric morphometry of the Rhodniusprolixus complex (Hemiptera, Triatominae): patterns of intraspecific and interspecific allometry and their taxonomic implications. Zookeys 2024; 1202:213-228. [PMID: 38826493 PMCID: PMC11140263 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.108157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In the subfamily Triatominae, the genus Rhodnius is one of the most studied, not only because of its epidemiological importance, but also because of the difficulty in differentiating its species. Currently, one of the strategies to control Chagas disease, besides other initiatives such as the analysis of donated blood, is focused on fighting the vector. Correctly identifying triatomines is essential for the entomoepidemiological surveillance of Chagas disease. The objective of the present work was to compare the species of the R.prolixus complex using geometric morphometry of hemelytra and heads to evaluate the patterns of intraspecific and interspecific allometry and their taxonomic implications. This method can help in the diagnosis of close species, whose morphological characteristics are insufficient for correct identification. Specimens from five different collections were used, covering the species included in the R.prolixus complex (R.barretti, R.dalessandroi, R.domesticus, R.marabaensis, R.milesi, R.montenegrensis, R.nasutus, R.neglectus, R.neivai, R.prolixus and R.robustus). Morphometric analyses indicated that the hemelytra are not structures with good resolution for separating species and, for this reason, the use of the heads proved to be more adequate for this group (thus allowing differentiation of all species of the R.prolixus complex). The results suggest that R.milesi is a variant of R.neglectus and confirms that R.prolixus and R.robustus are distinct species. Furthermore, we propose the creation of the R.neivai complex comprising R.domesticus and R.neivai.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina P. C. Alvarez
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Mourisco, sala 214, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, BrazilInstituto Oswaldo CruzRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Carolina Dale
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Mourisco, sala 214, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, BrazilInstituto Oswaldo CruzRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Cleber Galvão
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Mourisco, sala 214, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, BrazilInstituto Oswaldo CruzRio de JaneiroBrazil
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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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Filée J, Merle M, Bastide H, Mougel F, Bérenger JM, Folly-Ramos E, Almeida CE, Harry M. Phylogenomics for Chagas Disease Vectors of the Rhodnius Genus (Hemiptera, Triatominae): What We Learn From Mito-Nuclear Conflicts and Recommendations. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.750317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We provide in this study a very large DNA dataset on Rhodnius species including 36 samples representing 16 valid species of the three Rhodnius groups, pictipes, prolixus and pallescens. Samples were sequenced at low-depth with whole-genome shotgun sequencing (Illumina technology). Using phylogenomics including 15 mitochondrial genes (13.3 kb), partial nuclear rDNA (5.2 kb) and 51 nuclear protein-coding genes (36.3 kb), we resolve sticking points in the Rhodnius phylogeny. At the species level, we confirmed the species-specific status of R. montenegrensis and R. marabaensis and we agree with the synonymy of R. taquarussuensis with R. neglectus. We also invite to revisit the species-specific status of R. milesi that is more likely R. nasutus. We proposed to define a robustus species complex that comprises the four close relative species: R. marabaensis, R. montenegrensis, R. prolixus and R. robustus. As Psammolestes tertius was included in the Rhodnius clade, we strongly recommend reclassifying this species as R. tertius. At the Rhodnius group level, molecular data consistently supports the clustering of the pictipes and pallescens groups, more related to each other than they are to the prolixus group. Moreover, comparing mitochondrial and nuclear tree topologies, our results demonstrated that various introgression events occurred in all the three Rhodnius groups, in laboratory strains but also in wild specimens. We demonstrated that introgressions occurred frequently in the prolixus group, involving the related species of the robustus complex but also the pairwise R. nasutus and R. neglectus. A genome wide analysis highlighted an introgression event in the pictipes group between R. stali and R. brethesi and suggested a complex gene flow between the three species of the pallescens group, R. colombiensis, R. pallescens and R. ecuadoriensis. The molecular data supports also a sylvatic distribution of R. prolixus in Brazil (Pará state) and the monophyly of R. robustus. As we detected extensive introgression events and selective pressure on mitochondrial genes, we strongly recommend performing separate mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies and to take advantages of mito-nuclear conflicts in order to have a comprehensive evolutionary vision of this genus.
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Alevi KCC, de Oliveira J, da Silva Rocha D, Galvão C. Trends in Taxonomy of Chagas Disease Vectors (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): From Linnaean to Integrative Taxonomy. Pathogens 2021; 10:1627. [PMID: 34959582 PMCID: PMC8706908 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by members of the subfamily Triatominae. There are currently 157 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. Most descriptions of triatomine species are based on classical taxonomy. Facing evolutionary (cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity) and taxonomic (more than 190 synonymizations) problems, it is evident that integrative taxonomy studies are an important and necessary trend for this group of vectors. Almost two-and-a-half centuries after the description of the first species, we present for the first time the state-of-the-art taxonomy of the whole subfamily, covering from the initial classic studies to the use of integrative taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú km 1, Araraquara 14801-902, Brazil; (K.C.C.A.); (J.d.O.)
- Laboratório de Entomologia em Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
- Laboratório Nacional e Internacional de Referência em Taxonomia de Triatomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Rocha Lima, Sala 505, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Jader de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú km 1, Araraquara 14801-902, Brazil; (K.C.C.A.); (J.d.O.)
- Laboratório de Entomologia em Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
| | - Dayse da Silva Rocha
- Laboratório Nacional e Internacional de Referência em Taxonomia de Triatomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Rocha Lima, Sala 505, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Cleber Galvão
- Laboratório Nacional e Internacional de Referência em Taxonomia de Triatomíneos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Rocha Lima, Sala 505, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
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Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Abad-Franch F, de Almeida MR, Obara MT, de Souza RDCM, Batista JADS, Rocha DDA. TriatoDex, an electronic identification key to the Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), vectors of Chagas disease: Development, description, and performance. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248628. [PMID: 33886550 PMCID: PMC8061935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Correct identification of triatomine bugs is crucial for Chagas disease surveillance, yet available taxonomic keys are outdated, incomplete, or both. Here we present TriatoDex, an Android app-based pictorial, annotated, polytomous key to the Triatominae. TriatoDex was developed using Android Studio and tested by 27 Brazilian users. Each user received a box with pinned, number-labeled, adult triatomines (33 species in total) and was asked to identify each bug to the species level. We used generalized linear mixed models (with user- and species-ID random effects) and information-theoretic model evaluation/averaging to investigate TriatoDex performance. TriatoDex encompasses 79 questions and 554 images of the 150 triatomine-bug species described worldwide up to 2017. TriatoDex-based identification was correct in 78.9% of 824 tasks. TriatoDex performed better in the hands of trained taxonomists (93.3% vs. 72.7% correct identifications; model-averaged, adjusted odds ratio 5.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.09–11.48). In contrast, user age, gender, primary job (including academic research/teaching or disease surveillance), workplace (including universities, a reference laboratory for triatomine-bug taxonomy, or disease-surveillance units), and basic training (from high school to biology) all had negligible effects on TriatoDex performance. Our analyses also suggest that, as TriatoDex results accrue to cover more taxa, they may help pinpoint triatomine-bug species that are consistently harder (than average) to identify. In a pilot comparison with a standard, printed key (370 tasks by seven users), TriatoDex performed similarly (84.5% correct assignments, CI 68.9–94.0%), but identification was 32.8% (CI 24.7–40.1%) faster on average–for a mean absolute saving of ~2.3 minutes per bug-identification task. TriatoDex holds much promise as a handy, flexible, and reliable tool for triatomine-bug identification; an updated iOS/Android version is under development. We expect that, with continuous refinement derived from evolving knowledge and user feedback, TriatoDex will substantially help strengthen both entomological surveillance and research on Chagas disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Área de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Fernando Abad-Franch
- Faculdade de Medicina, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Takashi Obara
- Faculdade de Medicina, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ceilândia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | | | | | - Douglas de Almeida Rocha
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Área de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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Abad-Franch F, Monteiro FA, Pavan MG, Patterson JS, Bargues MD, Zuriaga MÁ, Aguilar M, Beard CB, Mas-Coma S, Miles MA. Under pressure: phenotypic divergence and convergence associated with microhabitat adaptations in Triatominae. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:195. [PMID: 33832518 PMCID: PMC8034103 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04647-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triatomine bugs, the vectors of Chagas disease, associate with vertebrate hosts in highly diverse ecotopes. It has been proposed that occupation of new microhabitats may trigger selection for distinct phenotypic variants in these blood-sucking bugs. Although understanding phenotypic variation is key to the study of adaptive evolution and central to phenotype-based taxonomy, the drivers of phenotypic change and diversity in triatomines remain poorly understood. Methods/results We combined a detailed phenotypic appraisal (including morphology and morphometrics) with mitochondrial cytb and nuclear ITS2 DNA sequence analyses to study Rhodnius ecuadoriensis populations from across the species’ range. We found three major, naked-eye phenotypic variants. Southern-Andean bugs primarily from vertebrate-nest microhabitats (Ecuador/Peru) are typical, light-colored, small bugs with short heads/wings. Northern-Andean bugs from wet-forest palms (Ecuador) are dark, large bugs with long heads/wings. Finally, northern-lowland bugs primarily from dry-forest palms (Ecuador) are light-colored and medium-sized. Wing and (size-free) head shapes are similar across Ecuadorian populations, regardless of habitat or phenotype, but distinct in Peruvian bugs. Bayesian phylogenetic and multispecies-coalescent DNA sequence analyses strongly suggest that Ecuadorian and Peruvian populations are two independently evolving lineages, with little within-lineage phylogeographic structuring or differentiation. Conclusions We report sharp naked-eye phenotypic divergence of genetically similar Ecuadorian R. ecuadoriensis (nest-dwelling southern-Andean vs palm-dwelling northern bugs; and palm-dwelling Andean vs lowland), and sharp naked-eye phenotypic similarity of typical, yet genetically distinct, southern-Andean bugs primarily from vertebrate-nest (but not palm) microhabitats. This remarkable phenotypic diversity within a single nominal species likely stems from microhabitat adaptations possibly involving predator-driven selection (yielding substrate-matching camouflage coloration) and a shift from palm-crown to vertebrate-nest microhabitats (yielding smaller bodies and shorter and stouter heads). These findings shed new light on the origins of phenotypic diversity in triatomines, warn against excess reliance on phenotype-based triatomine-bug taxonomy, and confirm the Triatominae as an informative model system for the study of phenotypic change under ecological pressure. ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04647-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Abad-Franch
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. .,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Fernando A Monteiro
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. .,Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, USA.
| | - Márcio G Pavan
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - James S Patterson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - M Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Ángeles Zuriaga
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marcelo Aguilar
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.,Instituto Juan César García, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Charles B Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, USA
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Michael A Miles
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Kieran TJ, Bayona-Vásquez NJ, Varian CP, Saldaña A, Samudio F, Calzada JE, Gottdenker NL, Glenn TC. Population genetics of two chromatic morphs of the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius pallescens Barber, 1932 in Panamá. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 84:104369. [PMID: 32442632 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Rhodnius pallescens is the principal vector of Chagas disease in Panama. Recently a dark chromatic morph has been discovered in the highlands of Veraguas Province. Limited genetic studies have been conducted with regards to the population structure and dispersal potential of Triatominae vectors, particularly in R. pallescens. Next generation sequencing methods such as RADseq and complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome sequencing have great potential for examining vector biology across space and time. Here we utilize a RADseq method (3RAD), along with complete mtDNA sequencing, to examine the population structure of the two chromatic morpho types of R. pallescens in Panama. We sequenced 105 R. pallescens samples from five localities in Panama. We generated a 2216 SNP dataset and 6 complete mtDNA genomes. RADseq showed significant differentiation among the five localities (FCT = 0.695; P = .004), but most of this was between localities with the dark vs. light chromatic morphs (Veraguas vs. Panama Oeste). The mtDNA genomes showed a 97-98% similarity between dark and light chromatic morphs across all genes and a 502 bp insert in light morphs. Thus, both the RADseq and mtDNA data showed highly differentiated clades with essentially no gene flow between the dark and light chromatic morphs from Veraguas and central Panama respectively. We discuss the growing evidence showing clear distinctions between these two morpho types with the possibility that these are separate species, an area of research that requires further investigation. Finally, we discuss the cost-effectiveness of 3RAD which is a third of the cost compared to other RADseq methods used recently in Chagas disease vector research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy J Kieran
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Natalia J Bayona-Vásquez
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Institute of Bioinformatics, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Christina P Varian
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Azael Saldaña
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES), Panama City, Panama; Centro de Investigación y Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Parasitarias (CIDEP), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá, Panama
| | - Franklyn Samudio
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES), Panama City, Panama
| | - Jose E Calzada
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES), Panama City, Panama
| | - Nicole L Gottdenker
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Odum School of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Travis C Glenn
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Institute of Bioinformatics, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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