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Avalos-Borges EE, Acevedo-Arcique CM, Segura-Correa JC, Jiménez-Coello M, Garg NJ, Ortega-Pacheco A. Echocardiographic Documentation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Development in Dogs Naturally Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1884. [PMID: 38997996 PMCID: PMC11240442 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131884] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to characterize the echocardiographic alterations in dogs from an endemic region that were naturally infected with T. cruzi. Dogs (n = 130) seropositive for antibodies against T. cruzi and/or with acute parasitemia were enrolled in the study. Indicators of changes in the structure and systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle (LV) and blood flow patterns were evaluated by echocardiography. The frequency and extent of alterations in these indicators were associated with the severity of the disease. Briefly, 15 (11.54%) dogs were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 115 (88.46%) dogs were diagnosed as being without DCM. Infected dogs with DCM exhibited structural features of LV dysfunction, e.g., a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the LV internal diameter at systole and diastole (LVID-s, LVID-d) and a decline in the LV posterior wall (LVPW-d) thickness at diastole. Despite an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output indicating contraction force, DCM resulted in a decreased ejection fraction, affecting systolic function. Dogs that were diagnosed as DCM-negative but were positive for T. cruzi by PCR exhibited a high frequency of an increase in the thickness of the interventricular septum in systole (IVS-s) and the LV posterior wall in diastole (LVPW-d), a decline in the LV inner diameter (LVID-d, LVID-s), and fractional shortening (FS). The thinning of the LVPW at systole was the most defining feature observed in chronically infected dogs. In summary, this is the first study reporting the echocardiographic changes occurring in dogs naturally infected with T. cruzi and developing DCM. Our data suggest that changes in LVID are a major indicator of risk of cardiac involvement, and the observation of changes in the IVS, LVPW, and FS have predictive value in determining the risk of DCM development in infected dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo E. Avalos-Borges
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. Postal 4-116 Itzimná, Mérida 97000, Yucatán, Mexico; (E.E.A.-B.); (J.C.S.-C.)
| | - Carlos M. Acevedo-Arcique
- Hospital Veterinario para Perros y Gatos, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Itzaes No. 490 x 29, C. 18 No. 271, San José Vergel, Mérida 97000, Yucatán, Mexico;
| | - Jose C. Segura-Correa
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. Postal 4-116 Itzimná, Mérida 97000, Yucatán, Mexico; (E.E.A.-B.); (J.C.S.-C.)
| | - Matilde Jiménez-Coello
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Itzaes No. 490 x 29, Mérida 97000, Yucatán, Mexico;
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA;
| | - Antonio Ortega-Pacheco
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. Postal 4-116 Itzimná, Mérida 97000, Yucatán, Mexico; (E.E.A.-B.); (J.C.S.-C.)
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Silberstein E, Chung CC, Debrabant A. The transcriptome landscape of 3D-cultured placental trophoblasts reveals activation of TLR2 and TLR3/7 in response to low Trypanosoma cruzi parasite exposure. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1256385. [PMID: 37799608 PMCID: PMC10548471 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1256385] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vertical transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) become a globalized health problem accounting for 22% of new cases of Chagas disease (CD). Congenital infection is now considered the main route of CD spread in non-endemic countries where no routine disease testing of pregnant women is implemented. The main mechanisms that lead to fetal infection by T. cruzi remain poorly understood. Mother-to-child transmission may occur when bloodstream trypomastigotes interact with the syncytiotrophoblasts (SYNs) that cover the placenta chorionic villi. These highly specialized cells function as a physical barrier and modulate immune responses against pathogen infections. To model the human placenta environment, we have previously used a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system of SYNs that exhibits differentiation characteristics comparable to placental trophoblasts. Further, we have shown that 3D-grown SYNs are highly resistant to T. cruzi infection. In this work, we used RNA sequencing and whole transcriptome analysis to explore the immunological signatures that drive SYNs' infection control. We found that the largest category of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are associated with inflammation and innate immunity functions. Quantitative RT-PCR evaluation of selected DEGs, together with detection of cytokines and chemokines in SYNs culture supernatants, confirmed the transcriptome data. Several genes implicated in the Toll-like receptors signaling pathways were upregulated in 3D-grown SYNs. In fact, TLR2 blockade and TLR3/7 knockdown stimulated T. cruzi growth, suggesting that these molecules play a significant role in the host cell response to infection. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of DEGs predicted the activation of canonical pathways such as S100 protein family, pathogen induced cytokine storm, wound healing, HIF1α signaling and phagosome formation after T. cruzi exposure. Our findings indicate that SYNs resist infection by eliciting a constitutive pro-inflammatory response and modulating multiple defense mechanisms that interfere with the parasite's intracellular life cycle, contributing to parasite killing and infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Silberstein
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Charles C. Chung
- High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment Team, Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Avalos-Borges EE, Jiménez-Coello M, Chan-Pérez JI, Cigarroa-Toledo N, Garg NJ, Guillermo-Cordero L, Segura-Correa JC, Ortega-Pacheco A. Congenital Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in Naturally Infected Dogs. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:465-474. [PMID: 37339451 PMCID: PMC10625467 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Congenital transmission (CT) of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs has not been clearly demonstrated, even though dogs are important reservoirs of this agent. Materials and Methods: Seventeen late pregnant dogs seropositive for T. cruzi were selected, and a total of 84 fetuses were obtained. Blood and heart tissues from the fetuses and dams, and placental tissue from dam were collected. All tissues were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for T. cruzi DNA (TcDNA) and inflammatory infiltrate and pathology by histological examination. CT was determined when physical, histological, or molecular evidence of T. cruzi was detected in blood or tissues of the fetuses. Results: A general transmission frequency of 59% was found, and 0.20 ± 0.24 of fetuses per litter were infected. Dams that were qPCR positive for TcDNA in cardiac tissue or blood displayed a transmission frequency of 100% and 67%, respectively. The highest parasite burden was noted in dams that were positive for TcDNA in both blood (82E-01 ± 1.54E-01) and cardiac (5.28E+03 ± 8.85E+03) tissues. In fetuses, higher parasitic burden in blood and cardiac tissue was found in those carried by dams that were seropositive and qPCR positive for TcDNA in cardiac tissue and blood. No amastigote nests were recorded in the cardiac tissue of fetuses in the histopathological studies, but typical lesions of T. cruzi infection were identified in all fetuses where CT occurred. Conclusions: CT of T. cruzi occurred at a high frequency in naturally infected pregnant dogs from the endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo E. Avalos-Borges
- Doctorado Institucional en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Matilde Jiménez-Coello
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Jose I. Chan-Pérez
- Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr Hideyo Noguchi,” Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Nohemi Cigarroa-Toledo
- Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr Hideyo Noguchi,” Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Leonardo Guillermo-Cordero
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Jose C. Segura-Correa
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ortega-Pacheco
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
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Rios LE, Lokugamage N, Garg NJ. Effects of Acute and Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi Infection on Pregnancy Outcomes in Mice: Parasite Transmission, Mortality, Delayed Growth, and Organ Damage in Pups. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:313-331. [PMID: 36565805 PMCID: PMC10013038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This study aimed to determine the effects of T. cruzi infection on fertility rate and health of the newborn pups in pregnant mice. Female mice were challenged with T. cruzi and mated at 21 days (acute parasitemic phase) or 90 days (chronic parasite persistence phase) after infection. Pups were examined for growth up to 20 days after birth; and parasite burden in brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and intestine was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis, and fibrosis in pups' heart and brain tissues were evaluated by histology. T. cruzi infection in dams delayed the onset of pregnancy, decreased the fertility rate, and led to vertical transmission of parasite to the pups. Furthermore, infected dams delivered pups that exhibited decreased survival rate, decreased birth weight, and decreased growth rate. Significantly increased inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis of cardiac and brain tissues were noted in pups born to infected dams. Initial challenge with higher parasite dose had more detrimental effects on fertility rate and pups' health in both acutely and chronically infected dams. In conclusion, mice offer a promising model to evaluate the efficacy of new vaccines and therapeutic drugs in controlling the acute and chronic maternal T. cruzi infection and congenital transmission to newborns, and in improving the fertility rate and pups' health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizette E Rios
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Nandadeva Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
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Silberstein E, Kim KS, Acosta D, Debrabant A. Human Placental Trophoblasts Are Resistant to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in a 3D-Culture Model of the Maternal-Fetal Interface. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:626370. [PMID: 33746919 PMCID: PMC7969514 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.626370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the etiological agent of Chagas Disease (CD), is transmitted to humans by infected kissing bugs, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and from mother-to-child. Congenital transmission is now considered an important route of CD spread in non-endemic countries where no routine testing of pregnant women for the disease is implemented. The main cellular mechanisms that lead to fetal infection by T. cruzi, despite the presence of a placental barrier, remain unclear. Mother-to-child transmission most likely occurs when bloodstream trypomastigotes reach the placental intervillous space and interact with the large cellular surface provided by the syncytioptrophoblasts. These highly specialized cells not only function as a physical obstacle between mother and fetus, but also modulate immune responses against pathogen infections. To overcome the limitations associated with the use of human fetal tissues, we employed a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model to recreate the human placenta environment. In this system, the trophoblast-derived JEG-3 cell line is co-cultured with human brain microvascular endothelial cells attached to microcarrier beads in a rotating bioreactor. Here, we report that 3D culture of JEG-3/HBMEC spheroids promote JEG-3 cells differentiation revealed by the formation of syncytia and production of β human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen (hPL). Under these growth conditions, we demonstrate that 3D-grown JEG-3 cells have reduced susceptibility to T. cruzi infection compared to JEG-3 cells grown in conventional tissue culture flasks. We also show that 3D-cultured JEG-3 cells release paracrine factors in the supernatant that prevent T. cruzi infection of non-trophoblastic cell lines. Our in vitro model of T. cruzi vertical transmission may help better understand the molecular processes by which parasites bypass the human placental barrier and could be exploited to evaluate therapeutics to reduce congenital CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Silberstein
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Kwang Sik Kim
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David Acosta
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Ayala EV, Rodrigues da Cunha G, Azevedo MA, Calderon M, Jimenez J, Venuto AP, Gazzinelli R, Lavalle RJY, Riva AGV, Hincapie R, Finn MG, Marques AF. C57BL/6 α-1,3-Galactosyltransferase Knockout Mouse as an Animal Model for Experimental Chagas Disease. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1807-1815. [PMID: 32374586 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00061] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The leading animal model of experimental Chagas disease, the mouse, plays a significant role in studies for vaccine development, diagnosis, and human therapies. Humans, along with Old World primates, alone among mammals, cannot make the terminal carbohydrate linkage of the α-Gal trisaccharide. It has been established that the anti-α-Gal immune response is likely to be a critical factor for protection against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection in humans. However, the mice customarily employed for the study of T. cruzi infection naturally express the α-Gal epitope and therefore do not produce anti-α-Gal antibodies. Here, we used the C57BL/6 α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (α-GalT-KO) mouse, which does not express the α-Gal epitope as a model for experimental Chagas disease. We found the anti-α-Gal IgG antibody response to an increase in α-GalT-KO mice infected with Arequipa and Colombiana strains of T. cruzi, leading to fewer parasite nests, lower parasitemia, and an increase of INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 cytokines in the heart of α-GalT-KO mice compared with α-GalT-WT mice on days 60 and 120 postinfection. We therefore agree that the C57BL/6 α-GalT-KO mouse represents a useful model for initial testing of therapeutic and immunological approaches against different strains of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Valencia Ayala
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Genômica de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigación, Centro de Investigación en Inmunología e Infectología, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Gisele Rodrigues da Cunha
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Maira Araujo Azevedo
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Maritza Calderon
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Juan Jimenez
- Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Ana Paula Venuto
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Gazzinelli
- Instituto de Pesquisa Rene Rachou, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-009, Brazil
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Raúl Jesus Ynocente Lavalle
- Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Angela Giovana Vidal Riva
- Instituto de Investigación, Centro de Investigación en Inmunología e Infectología, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Lima 15000, Perú
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Robert Hincapie
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
| | - M. G. Finn
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
| | - Alexandre F. Marques
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
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Bhattacharya A, Corbeil A, do Monte-Neto RL, Fernandez-Prada C. Of Drugs and Trypanosomatids: New Tools and Knowledge to Reduce Bottlenecks in Drug Discovery. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070722. [PMID: 32610603 PMCID: PMC7397081 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis (Leishmania species), sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), and Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) are devastating and globally spread diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites. At present, drugs for treating trypanosomatid diseases are far from ideal due to host toxicity, elevated cost, limited access, and increasing rates of drug resistance. Technological advances in parasitology, chemistry, and genomics have unlocked new possibilities for novel drug concepts and compound screening technologies that were previously inaccessible. In this perspective, we discuss current models used in drug-discovery cascades targeting trypanosomatids (from in vitro to in vivo approaches), their use and limitations in a biological context, as well as different examples of recently discovered lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 126, India;
| | - Audrey Corbeil
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | | | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-450-773-8521 (ext. 32802)
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Ihle-Soto C, Costoya E, Correa JP, Bacigalupo A, Cornejo-Villar B, Estadella V, Solari A, Ortiz S, Hernández HJ, Botto-Mahan C, Gorla DE, Cattan PE. Spatio-temporal characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and discrete typing units infecting hosts and vectors from non-domestic foci of Chile. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007170. [PMID: 30768613 PMCID: PMC6395009 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that is transmitted by triatomine vectors to mammals. It is classified in six discrete typing units (DTUs). In Chile, domestic vectorial transmission has been interrupted; however, the parasite is maintained in non-domestic foci. The aim of this study was to describe T. cruzi infection and DTU composition in mammals and triatomines from several non-domestic populations of North-Central Chile and to evaluate their spatio-temporal variations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A total of 710 small mammals and 1140 triatomines captured in six localities during two study periods (summer/winter) of the same year were analyzed by conventional PCR to detect kDNA of T. cruzi. Positive samples were DNA blotted and hybridized with specific probes for detection of DTUs TcI, TcII, TcV, and TcVI. Infection status was modeled, and cluster analysis was performed in each locality. We detected 30.1% of overall infection in small mammals and 34.1% in triatomines, with higher rates in synanthropic mammals and in M. spinolai. We identified infecting DTUs in 45 mammals and 110 triatomines, present more commonly as single infections; the most frequent DTU detected was TcI. Differences in infection rates among species, localities and study periods were detected in small mammals, and between triatomine species; temporally, infection presented opposite patterns between mammals and triatomines. Infection clustering was frequent in vectors, and one locality exhibited half of the 21 clusters found. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We determined T. cruzi infection in natural host and vector populations simultaneously in a spatially widespread manner during two study periods. All captured species presented T. cruzi infection, showing spatial and temporal variations. Trypanosoma cruzi distribution can be clustered in space and time. These clusters may represent different spatial and temporal risks of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Ihle-Soto
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Eduardo Costoya
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Juana P. Correa
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Antonella Bacigalupo
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Berenice Cornejo-Villar
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Viviana Estadella
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Aldo Solari
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Sylvia Ortiz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Héctor J. Hernández
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Carezza Botto-Mahan
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - David E. Gorla
- Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pedro E. Cattan
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
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