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Schaub GA. Interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi, Triatomines and the Microbiota of the Vectors-A Review. Microorganisms 2024; 12:855. [PMID: 38792688 PMCID: PMC11123833 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050855] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the interactions between Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, its vectors, triatomines, and the diverse intestinal microbiota of triatomines, which includes mutualistic symbionts, and highlights open questions. T. cruzi strains show great biological heterogeneity in their development and their interactions. Triatomines differ from other important vectors of diseases in their ontogeny and the enzymes used to digest blood. Many different bacteria colonize the intestinal tract of triatomines, but only Actinomycetales have been identified as mutualistic symbionts. Effects of the vector on T. cruzi are indicated by differences in the ability of T. cruzi to establish in the triatomines and in colonization peculiarities, i.e., proliferation mainly in the posterior midgut and rectum and preferential transformation into infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes in the rectum. In addition, certain forms of T. cruzi develop after feeding and during starvation of triatomines. Negative effects of T. cruzi on the triatomine vectors appear to be particularly evident when the triatomines are stressed and depend on the T. cruzi strain. Effects on the intestinal immunity of the triatomines are induced by ingested blood-stage trypomastigotes of T. cruzi and affect the populations of many non-symbiotic intestinal bacteria, but not all and not the mutualistic symbionts. After the knockdown of antimicrobial peptides, the number of non-symbiotic bacteria increases and the number of T. cruzi decreases. Presumably, in long-term infections, intestinal immunity is suppressed, which supports the growth of specific bacteria, depending on the strain of T. cruzi. These interactions may provide an approach to disrupt T. cruzi transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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Vital statistics of the introduced species Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in western Mexico under laboratory conditions. Acta Trop 2023; 237:106728. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Valença-Barbosa C, Finamore-Araujo P, Moreira OC, Alvarez MVN, Borges-Veloso A, Barbosa SE, Diotaiuti L, de Souza RDCM. High Parasitic Loads Quantified in Sylvatic Triatoma melanica, a Chagas Disease Vector. Pathogens 2022; 11:1498. [PMID: 36558833 PMCID: PMC9785645 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Triatoma melanica is a sylvatic vector species in Brazil. In We aimed to characterize the Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units (DTUs), the parasitic loads, and the blood meal sources of insects collected in rocky outcrops in rural areas in the state of Minas Gerais. An optical microscope (OM) and kDNA-PCR were used to examine natural infection by T. cruzi, and positive samples were genotyped by conventional multilocus PCR. Quantification of the T. cruzi load was performed using qPCR, and the blood meal sources were identified by Sanger sequencing the 12S rRNA gene. A total of 141 T. melanica were captured. Of these, ~55% (61/111) and ~91% (63/69) were positive by OM and KDNA-PCR, respectively. We genotyped ~89% (56/63) of the T. cruzi-positive triatomines, with TcI (~55%, 31/56) being the most prevalent DTU, followed by TcIII (~20%, 11/56) and TcII (~7%, 4/56). Only TcI+TcIII mixed infections were detected in 10 (~18%) specimens. A wide range of variation in the parasitic loads of T. melanica was observed, with an overall median value of 104 parasites/intestine, with females having higher T. cruzi loads than N2, N4, and N5. TcII showed lower parasitic loads compared to TcI and TcIII. The OM positive diagnosis odds ratio between T. cruzi infection when the parasite load is 107 compared to 103 was approximately 29.1. The most frequent blood meal source was Kerodon rupestris (~58%), followed by Thrichomys apereoides (~18%), Wiedomys cerradensis (~8%), Galactis cuja (~8%) and Gallus gallus (~8%). Our findings characterize biological and epidemiological aspects of the sylvatic population of T. melanica in the study area, highlighting the need to extend surveillance and control to this vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Valença-Barbosa
- Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Otacílio Cruz Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - André Borges-Veloso
- Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Silvia Ermelinda Barbosa
- Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Liléia Diotaiuti
- Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
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Chacón F, Bacigalupo A, Álvarez-Duhart B, Cattan PE, Solís R, Muñoz-San Martín C. The Parasite Load of Trypanosoma cruzi Modulates Feeding and Defecation Patterns of the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma infestans. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10051003. [PMID: 35630447 PMCID: PMC9143535 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10051003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causal agent of Chagas disease, a parasitic zoonosis transmitted mainly through the feces of triatomine insects. Triatoma infestans is the main triatomine vector of this disease in South America. Previous research has shown that T. cruzi infection modifies the behavior of triatomines. We evaluated, for the first time, the effect of parasite load on feeding and defecation behavior, which we quantified by using real-time PCR. The detection time of the host was shorter in infected individuals, and the number of bites increased, while the dejection time was reduced when compared with the non-infected group. A significant correlation between the parasite load and the behavioral changes registered in the infected triatomines was found. These results would indicate that the intensity of T. cruzi infection modulates the feeding and defecation behavior of T. infestans, increasing the vector competence of this triatomine vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Chacón
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (F.C.); (A.B.); (B.Á.-D.); (P.E.C.)
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Campus Sur, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile
| | - Antonella Bacigalupo
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (F.C.); (A.B.); (B.Á.-D.); (P.E.C.)
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Bárbara Álvarez-Duhart
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (F.C.); (A.B.); (B.Á.-D.); (P.E.C.)
| | - Pedro E. Cattan
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (F.C.); (A.B.); (B.Á.-D.); (P.E.C.)
| | - Rigoberto Solís
- Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (F.C.); (A.B.); (B.Á.-D.); (P.E.C.)
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (C.M.-S.M.); Tel.: +56-229-785-527 (R.S.); +56-229-785-637 (C.M.-S.M.)
| | - Catalina Muñoz-San Martín
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago 8370854, Chile
- Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Universidad de las Américas, Campus Providencia, Santiago 7500975, Chile
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (C.M.-S.M.); Tel.: +56-229-785-527 (R.S.); +56-229-785-637 (C.M.-S.M.)
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Waldeck B, Schaub GA. "Natural infections" with Trypanosoma cruzi via the skin of mice: size of mouthparts of vectors and numbers of invading parasites. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2033-2041. [PMID: 35507065 PMCID: PMC9192721 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07516-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Investigating parameters influencing natural infections with Trypanosoma cruzi via the skin, the diameters of mouthparts of different stages of triatomines vectors were measured to determine the size of the channel accessible for T. cruzi during cutaneous infection. The mean diameters of the skin-penetrating mandibles of first to fifth instar nymphs of the vector Triatoma infestans increased from 18 to 65 µm. The mean diameter in fourth instar nymphs of Dipetalogaster maxima was 86 µm. Different numbers of isolated vector-derived metacyclic trypomastigotes (10–10,000) were injected intradermally into mice. Prepatent periods, parasitemia and mortality rates were compared with those of mice obtaining 10,000 metacyclic trypomastigotes that are usually present in the first drop of faeces onto the feeding wounds of fifth and fourth instar nymphs of T. infestans and D. maxima, respectively. After injection of 50–10,000 T. cruzi, in all 42 mice the infection developed. An injection of 10 parasites induced an infection in 8 out of 15 mice. With increasing doses of parasites, prepatent periods tended to decrease. The level of parasitemia was higher after injection of the lowest dose. Except for one mouse all infected mice died. After placement of 10,000 metacyclic trypomastigotes onto the feeding wound of fifth or fourth instar nymphs of T. infestans and D. maxima, respectively, the infection rates of the groups, prepatent periods and the levels of parasitemia of T. cruzi in mice indicated that about 10–1,000 metacyclic trypomastigotes entered the skin via this route. For the first time, the present data emphasise the risk of an infection by infectious excreta of triatomines deposited near the feeding wound and the low number of invading parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Waldeck
- Zoology-Parasitology, Ruhr University, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Günter A Schaub
- Zoology-Parasitology, Ruhr University, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the wild Chagas disease vector, Mepraia spinolai: Parasitic load, discrete typing units, and blood meal sources. Acta Trop 2022; 229:106365. [PMID: 35150641 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mepraia spinolai, a wild vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in Chile, is an abundant triatomine species that is frequently infected by the parasite that causes Chagas disease. The aim of this study was to determine if the parasitic load of T. cruzi in M. spinolai is related to its blood meal source and the infecting DTUs of T. cruzi. METHODS The vector was captured in rural areas. In the laboratory, DNA was extracted from its abdomen and T. cruzi was quantified using qPCR. Real time PCR assays for four T. cruzi DTUs were performed. Blood meal sources were identified by real-time PCR amplification of vertebrate cytochrome b gene sequences coupled with high resolution melting (HRM). RESULTS Trypanosoma cruzi was detected in 735 M. spinolai; in 484 we identified one blood meal source, corresponding to human, sylvatic, and domestic species. From these, in 224 we were able to discriminate the infecting DTU. When comparing the parasitic loads between the unique blood meal sources, no significant differences were found, but infections with more than one DTU showed higher parasitic loads than single infections. DTU TcI was detected in a high proportion of the samples. CONCLUSIONS Higher parasitic loads are related to a greater number of T. cruzi DTUs infecting M. spinolai, and this triatomine seems to have a wide span of vertebrate species in its diet.
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Carvalho-Costa TM, Tiveron RDR, Mendes MT, Barbosa CG, Nevoa JC, Roza GA, Silva MV, Figueiredo HCP, Rodrigues V, Soares SDC, Oliveira CJF. Salivary and Intestinal Transcriptomes Reveal Differential Gene Expression in Starving, Fed and Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Rhodnius neglectus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:773357. [PMID: 34988032 PMCID: PMC8722679 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.773357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodnius neglectus is a potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), the causative agent of Chagas disease. The salivary glands (SGs) and intestine (INT) are actively required during blood feeding. The saliva from SGs is injected into the vertebrate host, modulating immune responses and favoring feeding for INT digestion. Tc infection significantly alters the physiology of these tissues; however, studies that assess this are still scarce. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the global transcriptional expression of genes in SGs and INT during fasting (FA), fed (FE), and fed in the presence of Tc (FE + Tc) conditions. In FA, the expression of transcripts related to homeostasis maintenance proteins during periods of stress was predominant. Therefore, the transcript levels of Tret1-like and Hsp70Ba proteins were increased. Blood appeared to be responsible for alterations found in the FE group, as most of the expressed transcripts, such as proteases and cathepsin D, were related to digestion. In FE + Tc group, there was a decreased expression of blood processing genes for insect metabolism (e.g., Antigen-5 precursor, Pr13a, and Obp), detoxification (Sult1) in INT and acid phosphatases in SG. We also found decreased transcriptional expression of lipocalins and nitrophorins in SG and two new proteins, pacifastin and diptericin, in INT. Several transcripts of unknown proteins with investigative potential were found in both tissues. Our results also show that the presence of Tc can change the expression in both tissues for a long or short period of time. While SG homeostasis seems to be re-established on day 9, changes in INT are still evident. The findings of this study may be used for future research on parasite-vector interactions and contribute to the understanding of food physiology and post-meal/infection in triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamires Marielem Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Rafael Destro Rosa Tiveron
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Maria Tays Mendes
- Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Cecília Gomes Barbosa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Jessica Coraiola Nevoa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Augusto Roza
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinícius Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | | | - Virmondes Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Siomar de Castro Soares
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
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Tátila-Ferreira A, Garcia GA, Dos Santos LMB, Pavan MG, de C Moreira CJ, Victoriano JC, da Silva-Junior R, Dos Santos-Mallet JR, Verly T, Britto C, Sikulu-Lord MT, Maciel-de-Freitas R. Near infrared spectroscopy accurately detects Trypanosoma cruzi non-destructively in midguts, rectum and excreta samples of Triatoma infestans. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23884. [PMID: 34903840 PMCID: PMC8668913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03465-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite with an estimated 70 million people at risk. Traditionally, parasite presence in triatomine vectors is detected through optical microscopy which can be low in sensitivity or molecular techniques which can be costly in endemic countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a reagent-free technique, the Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for rapid and non-invasive detection of T. cruzi in Triatoma infestans body parts and in wet/dry excreta samples of the insect. NIRS was 100% accurate for predicting the presence of T. cruzi infection Dm28c strain (TcI) in either the midgut or the rectum and models developed from either body part could predict infection in the other part. Models developed to predict infection in excreta samples were 100% accurate for predicting infection in both wet and dry samples. However, models developed using dry excreta could not predict infection in wet samples and vice versa. This is the first study to report on the potential application of NIRS for rapid and non-invasive detection of T. cruzi infection in T. infestans in the laboratory. Future work should demonstrate the capacity of NIRS to detect T. cruzi in triatomines originating from the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Tátila-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela A Garcia
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lilha M B Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Márcio G Pavan
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos José de C Moreira
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana C Victoriano
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância Entomológica de Diptera E Hemiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato da Silva-Junior
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância Entomológica de Diptera E Hemiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Universidade Iguaçu - UNIG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jacenir R Dos Santos-Mallet
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância Entomológica de Diptera E Hemiptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Universidade Iguaçu - UNIG, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaiane Verly
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maggy T Sikulu-Lord
- The School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Valença-Barbosa C, Finamore-Araujo P, Moreira OC, Vergara-Meza JG, Alvarez MVN, Nascimento JR, Borges-Veloso A, Viana MC, Lilioso M, Miguel DC, Gadelha FR, Teixeira MMG, Almeida CE. Genotypic Trypanosoma cruzi distribution and parasite load differ ecotypically and according to parasite genotypes in Triatoma brasiliensis from endemic and outbreak areas in Northeastern Brazil. Acta Trop 2021; 222:106054. [PMID: 34273309 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes and their relationship with parasitic load in distinct geographic and ecotypic populations of Triatoma brasiliensis in two sites, including one where a Chagas disease (ChD) outbreak occurred in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Triatomine captures were performed in peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes in two municipalities: Marcelino Vieira - affected by the outbreak; and Currais Novos - where high pressure of peridomestic triatomine infestation after insecticide spraying have been reported. The kDNA-PCR was used to select 124 T. cruzi positive triatomine samples, of which 117 were successfully genotyped by fluorescent fragment length barcoding (FFLB). Moreover, the T. cruzi load quantification was performed using a multiplex TaqMan qPCR. Our findings showed a clear ecotypic segregation between TcI and TcII harboured by T. brasiliensis (p<0.001). Although no genotypes were ecotypically exclusive, TcI was predominant in peridomestic ecotopes (86%). In general, T. brasiliensis from Rio Grande do Norte had a higher T. cruzi load varying from 3.94 to 7.66 x 106T. cruzi per insect. Additionally, TcII (median value=299,504 T. cruzi/intestine unit equivalents) had more than twice (p=0.1) the parasite load of TcI (median value=149,077 T. cruzi/intestine unit equivalents), which can be attributed to a more ancient co-evolution with T. brasiliensis. The higher prevalence of TcII in the sylvatic T. brasiliensis (70%) could be associated with a more diversified source of bloodmeals for wild insect populations. Either TcI or TcII may have been responsible for the ChD outbreak that occurred in the city of Marcelino Vieira. On the other hand, a smaller portion of T. brasiliensis was infected by TcIII (3%) in the peridomicile, in addition to T. rangeli genotype A (1%), often found in mixed infections. Our results highlight the need of understanding the patterns of T. cruzi genotype´s development and circulation in insect vectors and reservoirs as a mode of tracking situations of epidemiologic importance, as the ChD outbreak recently recorded for Northeastern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Valença-Barbosa
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil; Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio C Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - André Borges-Veloso
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil; Grupo Triatomíneos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Maurício Lilioso
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Eduardo Almeida
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas - UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil
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Padilla-Valdez JM, Antonio-Campos A, Arias-Del-Angel JA, Rivas N, Alejandre-Aguilar R. Susceptibility dynamics between five Trypanosoma cruzi strains and three triatomine (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) species. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2021; 46:82-95. [PMID: 35229585 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-46.1.82] [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: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
American trypanosomiasis is a zoonosis caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is transmitted mainly by blood-sucking insects belonging to the subfamily Triatominae. The importance of this parasite lies in its wide geographical distribution, high morbidity, and the fact that there has not yet been an effective treatment or vaccine. Previous studies have detailed the interactions between different triatomine species and T. cruzi strains. However, the factors necessary to establish infection in triatomines have not yet been fully elucidated. Furthermore, it is postulated that the coexistence between the parasite and triatomines could modulate the susceptibility to infection in these insects. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the susceptibility to T. cruzi infection in the species Triatoma (Meccus) pallidipennis, Triatoma barberi, and Triatoma lecticularia, which were infected with Ninoa, H8, INC-5, Sontecomapan, and Hueypoxtla strains. The criteria used to establish susceptibility were the amount of blood ingested by the insects, percentage of infected triatomines, concentration of parasites in feces, and percentage of metacyclic trypomastigotes in feces. These parameters were analyzed by fresh examination and differential count with Giemsa-stained smears. Our main findings suggest the following order of susceptibility concerning infection with T. cruzi: T. lecticularia > T. barberi > T. (Meccus) pallidipennis. Furthermore, the study concludes that an increased susceptibility to infection of triatomines that share the same geographic region with different strains of T. cruzi is not always a fact.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Miguel Padilla-Valdez
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico
| | - Alberto Antonio-Campos
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico
| | - Jorge A Arias-Del-Angel
- Unidad Monterrey, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Apocada NL, Mexico
| | - Nancy Rivas
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico,
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Schaub GA. An Update on the Knowledge of Parasite-Vector Interactions of Chagas Disease. Res Rep Trop Med 2021; 12:63-76. [PMID: 34093053 PMCID: PMC8169816 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s274681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focusses on the interactions between the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, and its triatomine vector. The flagellate mainly colonizes the intestinal tract of the insect. The effect of triatomines on trypanosomes is indicated by susceptibility and refractoriness phenomena that vary according to the combination of the strains. Other effects are apparent in the different regions of the gut. In the stomach, the majority of ingested blood trypomastigotes are killed while the remaining transform to round stages. In the small intestine, these develop into epimastigotes, the main replicative stage. In the rectum, the population density is the highest and is where the infectious stage develops, the metacyclic trypomastigote. In all regions of the gut, starvation and feeding of the triatomine affect T. cruzi. In the small intestine and rectum, starvation reduces the population density and more spheromastigotes develop. In the rectum, feeding after short-term starvation induces metacyclogenesis and after long-term starvation the development of specific cells, containing several nuclei, kinetoplasts and flagella. When considering the effects of T. cruzi on triatomines, the flagellate seems to be of low pathogenicity. However, during stressful periods, which are normal in natural populations, effects occur often on the behaviour, eg, in readiness to approach the host, the period of time before defecation, dispersal and aggregation. In nymphs, the duration of the different instars and the mortality rates increase, but this seems to be induced by repeated infections or blood quality by the feeding on infected hosts. Starvation resistance is often reduced by infection. Longevity and reproduction of adults is reduced, but only after infection with some strains of T. cruzi. Only components of the surface coat of blood trypomastigotes induce an immune reaction. However, this seems to act against gut bacteria and favours the development of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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12
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Eberhard FE, Klimpel S, Guarneri AA, Tobias NJ. Metabolites as predictive biomarkers for Trypanosoma cruzi exposure in triatomine bugs. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3051-3057. [PMID: 34136103 PMCID: PMC8178018 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), colonizes the intestinal tract of triatomines. Triatomine bugs act as vectors in the life cycle of the parasite and transmit infective parasite stages to animals and humans. Contact of the vector with T. cruzi alters its intestinal microbial composition, which may also affect the associated metabolic patterns of the insect. Earlier studies suggest that the complexity of the triatomine fecal metabolome may play a role in vector competence for different T. cruzi strains. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and supervised machine learning, we aimed to detect differences in the intestinal metabolome of the triatomine Rhodnius prolixus and predict whether the insect had been exposed to T. cruzi or not based solely upon their metabolic profile. We were able to predict the exposure status of R. prolixus to T. cruzi with accuracies of 93.6%, 94.2% and 91.8% using logistic regression, a random forest classifier and a gradient boosting machine model, respectively. We extracted the most important features in producing the models and identified the major metabolites which assist in positive classification. This work highlights the complex interactions between triatomine vector and parasite including effects on the metabolic signature of the insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny E. Eberhard
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Sven Klimpel
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE TBG), Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Alessandra A. Guarneri
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou, Avenida Augusto de Lima,1715, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Nicholas J. Tobias
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE TBG), Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Corresponding author at: LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE TBG), Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
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