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Almeida CE, Máximo MM, Pires-Silva D, Takiya DM, Valença-Barbosa C, Viana MC, Reigada C, Iñiguez AM, Harry M, Folly-Ramos E. From molecules to ecosystems: Insights into a network of interactions for a Chagas disease outbreak using Triatoma brasiliensis as natural samplers. Acta Trop 2024; 251:107107. [PMID: 38190930 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Exploring the dynamics of disease transmission involves an understanding of complex interactions within the eco-epidemiologic framework. In the context of Chagas disease (CD), elements are mainly represented by the interactions among the pathogen, insect vector, host, humans and the environment. We performed quantitative and qualitative analyses on a dataset derived from 98 Triatoma brasiliensis infected by trypanosomatids, which were linked to a CD outbreak in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. We extracted invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) from these insects, comprising 18 populations around the outbreak area, each indicative of various strata of anthropogenic influence. Food source (FS) diversity, representing potential parasite reservoirs, was determined through mitochondrial gene (cyt b) sequencing of vertebrates, and parasite genotyping was accessed using fluorescent amplified fragment barcodes (FFLB) of trypanosomatids. We also assessed the residents' awareness of breeding sites for CD vectors in the inspected houses. The quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi was estimated via real-time PCR and is denominated here as the average parasite load (PL) per insect (T. cruzi/intestinal unit). We aimed to address vector-parasite-host-environment interactions that were discussed based on their significance among the components. Notably, among the significant interactions, we observed that the PL in the insects was significantly influenced by FS. Infected insects that fed on the classic reservoir, Didelphis albiventris, and Galea spixii exhibited higher PLs, compared to those that fed on Kerodon rupestris (p < 0.04)-a primary host. While D. albiventris is already recognized as a synanthropic species, we propose that G. spixii may also be undergoing a synanthropic process. Conversely, domestic cats are frequently identified as FS in infected insects from the sylvatic environment, suggesting a possible change in their behavior towards a wild state. Therefore, we propose that neglected anthropogenic actions have facilitated the reciprocal (sylvatic-peridomestic) circulation of T. cruzi-especially noted for TcI because it was predominant in insects found in peridomestic environments. Residents are often unaware of the existence of insect breeding grounds near their homes, particularly when it involves the storage of materials without planning for use, such as piles of tiles, bricks and wood. Although indirect inferences about the interaction among vector-parasite-host-environment are still incipient, we highlight the potential use of vectors as natural samplers of biological and ecological components in transmitting the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Almeida
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Campus IV, Rio Tinto, Brasil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
| | - Milena M Máximo
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Campus IV, Rio Tinto, Brasil
| | | | - Daniela M Takiya
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Maria C Viana
- Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brasil; Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | | | - Myriam Harry
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR EGCE, Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie, IDEEV, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Alejandra A, Sol GM, Fabián EG, Paula MN, Esteban GR, Victoria CM. Marginal risk of domestic vector-borne Trypanosoma cruzi transmission after improved vector control of Triatoma infestans across a rural-to-urban gradient in the Argentine Chaco. Acta Trop 2023; 243:106933. [PMID: 37119837 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106933] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The interruption of domestic vector-borne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Americas remains one of the main goals of the World Health Organization 2021-2030 road map for neglected tropical diseases. We implemented a longitudinal intervention program over 2015-2022 to suppress (peri)domestic Triatoma infestans in the municipality of Avia Terai, Chaco Province, Argentina and found that house infestation (3851 houses inspected) and triatomine abundance decreased over the first 2 years post-intervention (YPI), and remained stable thereafter associated to moderate pyrethroid resistant foci. Here we assessed selected components of transmission risk after interventions across the rural-to-urban gradient. We used multistage random sampling to select a municipality-wide sample of T. infestans. We examined 356 insects collected in 87 houses for T. cruzi infection using kDNA-PCR and identified their bloodmeal sources using an indirect ELISA. The overall prevalence of T. cruzi infection post-intervention was 1.7% (95% CI 0.7-3.6). Few houses (5.7%) (95% CI 2.5-12.8) harbored infected triatomines across the gradient. Infected triatomines were found in 5 peri-urban or rural dwellings over 1-4 years post-intervention. No infected insect was found in the urban area. The human blood index decreased from 66.2 at baseline to 42.8 at 1YPI and then increased to 92.9 at 4-5 YPI in the few infested domiciles detected. The percentage of houses with human-fed bugs displayed a similar temporal trend. Our results indicate marginal risks of domestic vector-borne transmission across the district after implementation of the intervention program. Ensuring sustainable vector surveillance coupled with human etiological diagnosis and treatment in hiperendemic areas like the Gran Chaco region, is urgently needed. 252 words.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvedro Alejandra
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaspe María Sol
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Enriquez Gustavo Fabián
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Macchiaverna Natalia Paula
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gürtler Ricardo Esteban
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cardinal Marta Victoria
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología. Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Dorn PL, Monroy MC, Stevens L. Sustainable, integrated control of native vectors: The case of Chagas disease in Central America. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.971000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite successes in reducing transmission, Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) remains the greatest economic burden of any parasitic disease in Latin America afflicting mostly the poor and further contributing to poverty. We review a long-term (2001-2022), integrated Ecohealth approach that addresses sustainable development goals to reduce risk of Chagas transmission by the main native vector in Central America, Triatoma dimidiata, s.l. The basis of the Ecohealth intervention was the identification of the risk factors for house infestation, an understanding of and collaboration with local communities, and genetic and proteomic studies that revealed the epidemiology and mechanisms of the rapid reinfestation seen following insecticide application. We review the development of this approach from a pilot project in two Guatemalan villages, to an expanded initiative across three countries with vastly different ecology, cultures, and municipal organization, and finally development of a multi-institutional, large-scale project to develop a strategy to tackle the remaining hot spots in Central America. This integrated Ecohealth approach resulted in reduced risk of transmission as measured by a sustained decrease in house infestation without further use of insecticides, a reduction in vectors with human blood meals and the Chagas parasite, as well as other health and economic benefits. We discuss lessons learned and how this approach could be applied to other vector-borne diseases.
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Pereira FM, Penados D, Dorn PL, Alcántara B, Monroy MC. The long-term impact of an Ecohealth intervention: Entomological data suggest the interruption of Chagas disease transmission in southeastern Guatemala. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106655. [PMID: 35977598 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Chagas disease in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. As a native vector, it moves readily among domestic, peri-domestic and sylvatic environments, making it difficult to control only using insecticide as this requires regular application, and re-infestation frequently occurs. Other social innovation alternatives such as those based on Ecohealth principles can be used to tackle the dynamics of the disease in an integral way. We asked whether an Ecohealth intervention, implemented beginning in 2001 in a highly infested village, 41.8%, in southeastern Guatemala, was sustainable in the long term. This intervention included initial insecticide treatments, followed by making low-cost house improvements to eliminate transmission risk factors such as repairing cracked walls, covering dirt floors with a cement-like substance and moving domestic animals outside. We assessed the long-term sustainability through entomological and house condition surveys, as well as an analysis of community satisfaction. We found over a 19-year period, infestation with T. dimidiata was reduced to 2.2% and maintained at a level below the level (8%) where vector transmission is unlikely. This long-term maintenance of low infestation coincided with a large proportion of villagers (88.6%) improving their houses and completing other aspects of the Ecohealth approach to maintain the village at low risk for Chagas transmission. There was unanimous satisfaction among the villagers with their houses, following improvements using the Ecohealth method, which likely played a role in the long-term persistence of the modifications. Although the infestation has remained low, 11 years following the last intervention and as the population grew there has been an increase in the proportion of "at-risk" houses, to 33%, pointing out the necessity of maintaining vigilance. The Ecohealth approach is a low-cost, sustainable approach for the long-term control of vector-borne Chagas disease. We recommend this approach including ongoing community monitoring and institutional response for the long-term, integrated control of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredy Manolo Pereira
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala.
| | - Daniel Penados
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Patricia L Dorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Belter Alcántara
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - María Carlota Monroy
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala
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de Arias AR, Monroy C, Guhl F, Sosa-Estani S, Santos WS, Abad-Franch F. Chagas disease control-surveillance in the Americas: the multinational initiatives and the practical impossibility of interrupting vector-borne Trypanosoma cruzi transmission. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210130. [PMID: 35830010 PMCID: PMC9261920 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) still imposes a heavy burden on most Latin American countries. Vector-borne and mother-to-child transmission cause several thousand new infections per year, and at least 5 million people carry Trypanosoma cruzi. Access to diagnosis and medical care, however, is far from universal. Starting in the 1990s, CD-endemic countries and the Pan American Health Organization-World Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) launched a series of multinational initiatives for CD control-surveillance. An overview of the initiatives’ aims, achievements, and challenges reveals some key common themes that we discuss here in the context of the WHO 2030 goals for CD. Transmission of T. cruzi via blood transfusion and organ transplantation is effectively under control. T. cruzi, however, is a zoonotic pathogen with 100+ vector species widely spread across the Americas; interrupting vector-borne transmission seems therefore unfeasible. Stronger surveillance systems are, and will continue to be, needed to monitor and control CD. Prevention of vertical transmission demands boosting current efforts to screen pregnant and childbearing-aged women. Finally, integral patient care is a critical unmet need in most countries. The decades-long experience of the initiatives, in sum, hints at the practical impossibility of interrupting vector-borne T. cruzi transmission in the Americas. The concept of disease control seems to provide a more realistic description of what can in effect be achieved by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlota Monroy
- Universidad de San Carlos, Laboratorio de Entomología y Parasitología Aplicadas, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Walter Souza Santos
- Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Epidemiologia das Leishmanioses, Ananindeua, PA, Brasil
| | - Fernando Abad-Franch
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Brasília, DF, Brasil
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Monroy MC, Penados D, Pineda J, Ruiz EL, Agreda EO, Alcantara B, Rodas A, Lange K, Weinberg D, Bazzani R, Marchiol A, Herazo R, Agrelo RS, Abril M, Chuit R. A multidisciplinary, collaborative, inter-agency and comprehensive approach for the control of Chagas Disease as a public health problem in Guatemala. Acta Trop 2022; 225:106157. [PMID: 34634265 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has defined Chagas Disease hotspots in Central America associated with the vector Triatoma spp. Triatoma dimidiata is a native vector adapted to multiple environments, including intra-domestic and peri-domestic habitats. A multi-institutional project named "Alliances for the elimination of Chagas in Central America" was created to help reduce the incidence of the disease in the region. Activities performed in the field as part of the project included aspects of vector surveillance and control, improvement of houses, diagnosis and treatment of individuals, health promotion, training of human resources and identification of access barriers to diagnosis and treatment. As a base line study, eleven villages, comprised of 1,572 households, were entomologically evaluated (83.4% overall participation); five were found to have very high infestation rates (>20%), three had high infestation rates (8-20%) and three had low-infestation rates (<8%), coinciding with the category of infestation-risk of the houses within each village. Serological tests were carried out in 812 people (>80% participation) in two of the 11 villages and none of the 128 children tested, less than 5 years of age, were positive for Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Community participation in all the activities was high (>70%). The collaboration between several subnational, national, and international institutions, each with specific roles, promoted community participation in the activities of vector control and patient care, thus, establishing a baseline to continue implementing and monitoring project progress.
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Assessing risk of vector transmission of Chagas disease through blood source analysis using LC-MS/MS for hemoglobin sequence identification. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262552. [PMID: 35073364 PMCID: PMC8786159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is mainly transmitted by triatomine insect vectors that feed on vertebrate blood. The disease has complex domiciliary infestation patterns and parasite transmission dynamics, influenced by biological, ecological, and socioeconomic factors. In this context, feeding patterns have been used to understand vector movement and transmission risk. Recently, a new technique using Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) targeting hemoglobin peptides has showed excellent results for understanding triatomines' feeding patterns. The aim of this study was to further develop the automated computational analysis pipeline for peptide sequence taxonomic identification, enhancing the ability to analyze large datasets data. We then used the enhanced pipeline to evaluate the feeding patterns of Triatoma dimidiata, along with domiciliary infestation risk variables, such as unkempt piles of firewood or construction material, cracks in bajareque and adobe walls and intradomiciliary animals. Our new python scripts were able to detect blood meal sources in 100% of the bugs analyzed and identified nine different species of blood meal sources. Human, chicken, and dog were the main blood sources found in 78.7%, 50.4% and 44.8% of the bugs, respectively. In addition, 14% of the bugs feeding on chicken and 15% of those feeding on dogs were captured in houses with no evidence of those animals being present. This suggests a high mobility among ecotopes and houses. Two of the three main blood sources, dog and chicken, were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by domiciliary infestation risk variables, including cracks in walls, construction material and birds sleeping in the intradomicile. This suggests that these variables are important for maintaining reproducing Triatoma dimidiata populations and that it is critical to mitigate these variables in all the houses of a village for effective control of these mobile vectors.
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Mothe J, Vacaflor LE, Castro-Arroyave DM, Cuervo LG, Gore Saravia N. Exploring social innovation in health in Central America and the Caribbean. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2020; 44:e77. [PMID: 32774348 PMCID: PMC7406126 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2020.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Universal health coverage is a public health priority in the Americas. Social innovation in health offers novel solutions to unmet needs, by enabling health care delivery to be more inclusive, affordable, and effective. In 2017, an international collaborative consortium launched an open call for solutions that sought to identify social innovations in health in Central America and the Caribbean. The focus was set on how these solutions can strengthen health care delivery, with emphasis on reducing the impact of neglected transmissible diseases. A crowdsourcing strategy was implemented to identify social innovations in health. These were evaluated by an external panel of experts and practitioners and civil society representing the health and social innovation sectors, based on the appropriateness, innovativeness, and affordability of the solution. The three top-scoring solutions were analyzed through case studies including site visits by a team of investigators. Two key findings emerged from the response to the call: 1) innovative solutions were based on the knowledge and experience of individuals and communities facing adverse situations; 2) this knowledge was shared through health promotion and education, leading to empowerment of the communities. The principal challenges addressed by the solutions were the limited access to quality health care services and failed traditional strategies for vector control. The solutions identified demonstrated how social innovation can strengthen health systems by delivering novel solutions to health needs and articulating communities to enable them to work hand-in-hand with the health system toward universal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josselyn Mothe
- Pan American Health OrganizationWashington, DCUnited States of AmericaPan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Luis E. Vacaflor
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad IcesiCaliColombiaCentro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia.
| | - Diana M. Castro-Arroyave
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad IcesiCaliColombiaCentro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia.
| | - Luis Gabriel Cuervo
- Pan American Health OrganizationWashington, DCUnited States of AmericaPan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Nancy Gore Saravia
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad IcesiCaliColombiaCentro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia.
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Hanley JP, Rizzo DM, Stevens L, Helms Cahan S, Dorn PL, Morrissey LA, Rodas AG, Orantes LC, Monroy C. Novel Evolutionary Algorithm Identifies Interactions Driving Infestation of Triatoma dimidiata, a Chagas Disease Vector. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:735-744. [PMID: 32524965 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a lethal, neglected tropical disease. Unfortunately, aggressive insecticide-spraying campaigns have not been able to eliminate domestic infestation of Triatoma dimidiata, the native vector in Guatemala. To target interventions toward houses most at risk of infestation, comprehensive socioeconomic and entomologic surveys were conducted in two towns in Jutiapa, Guatemala. Given the exhaustively large search space associated with combinations of risk factors, traditional statistics are limited in their ability to discover risk factor interactions. Two recently developed statistical evolutionary algorithms, specifically designed to accommodate risk factor interactions and heterogeneity, were applied to this large combinatorial search space and used in tandem to identify sets of risk factor combinations associated with infestation. The optimal model includes 10 risk factors in what is known as a third-order disjunctive normal form (i.e., infested households have chicken coops AND deteriorated bedroom walls OR an accumulation of objects AND dirt floors AND total number of occupants ≥ 5 AND years of electricity ≥ 5 OR poor hygienic condition ratings AND adobe walls AND deteriorated walls AND dogs). Houses with dirt floors and deteriorated walls have been reported previously as risk factors and align well with factors currently targeted by Ecohealth interventions to minimize infestation. However, the tandem evolutionary algorithms also identified two new socioeconomic risk factors (i.e., households having many occupants and years of electricity ≥ 5). Identifying key risk factors may help with the development of new Ecohealth interventions and/or reduce the survey time needed to identify houses most at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Hanley
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Donna M Rizzo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Sara Helms Cahan
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Patricia L Dorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Leslie A Morrissey
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Antonieta Guadalupe Rodas
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Lucia C Orantes
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
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Integrated vector control of Chagas disease in Guatemala: a case of social innovation in health. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:25. [PMID: 32284071 PMCID: PMC7155339 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00639-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Improved access to health care and quality of services require integrated efforts and innovations, including community empowerment and participation in transformation processes. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that is generally controlled by insecticide spraying. To achieve community empowerment in a health program, actions for social innovations may include: community-based research, interdisciplinary and intersectoral participation, community perception of direct benefits and participation in health or environmental improvements. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the processes by which an interdisciplinary team, in collaboration with communities of Comapa, Guatemala, developed an effective solution to address the risk for Chagas disease. Methods A qualitative study involving interviews semi-structured and direct observation was conducted using a case study approach to describe and understand the community-based research and intervention process developed by researchers from the Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology of the Universidad de San Carlos of Guatemala (Laboratorio de Entomologia y Parasitologia Aplicada). Nine interviews were conducted with the investigators, innovators, members of the community in which the intervention had been implemented. NVivo software (version 12) was used for the emergent coding and analysis of the interviews. Results Processes of social transformation were evident within households, and the communities that transcended the mere improvement of walls and floors. New social dynamics that favored the household economy and conditions of hygiene and home care that positively impacted the health of the community. We describe how the integration of criteria of social innovation into a home improvement strategy for Chagas disease control, can generate processes of transformation in health by considering sociocultural conditions, encouraging dialogue between public health approaches and traditional practices. We identify and discuss processes for Social Innovations in Health and identify their potential in improving community health in Latin America. Conclusions When social innovation criteria are included in a health control initiative, the community-based research and the interdisciplinary and intersectoral participation facilitate the implementation of the control strategy, the perceived benefits by the community and its empowerment to sustain and share the strategy. The case study provided understanding of the intersectoral and interdisciplinary dynamics in particular contexts, and documented the relevance of innovation criteria in health processes.
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Moo-Millan JI, Arnal A, Pérez-Carrillo S, Hernandez-Andrade A, Ramírez-Sierra MJ, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E, Waleckx E. Disentangling Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle dynamics through the identification of blood meal sources of natural populations of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatán, Mexico. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:572. [PMID: 31783778 PMCID: PMC6884771 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3819-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Little effort has been made to identify blood meal sources of T. dimidiata in natural conditions in this region, although this provides key information to disentangle T. cruzi transmission cycles and dynamics and guide the development of more effective control strategies. We identified the blood meals of a large sample of T. dimidiata bugs collected in different ecotopes simultaneously with the assessment of bug infection with T. cruzi, to disentangle the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in the region. Methods A sample of 248 T. dimidiata bugs collected in three rural villages and in the sylvatic habitat surrounding these villages was used. DNA from each bug midgut was extracted and bug infection with T. cruzi was assessed by PCR. For blood meal identification, we used a molecular assay based on cloning and sequencing following PCR amplification with vertebrate universal primers, and allowing the detection of multiple blood meals in a single bug. Results Overall, 28.7% of the bugs were infected with T. cruzi, with no statistical difference between bugs from the villages or from sylvatic ecotopes. Sixteen vertebrate species including domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic animals, were identified as blood meal sources for T. dimidiata. Human, dog and cow were the three main species identified, in bugs collected in the villages as well as in sylvatic ecotopes. Importantly, dog was highlighted as the main blood meal source after human. Dog was also the most frequently identified animal together with human within single bugs, and tended to be associated with the infection of the bugs. Conclusions Dog, human and cow were identified as the main mammals involved in the connection of sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Dog appeared as the most important animal in the transmission pathway of T. cruzi to humans, but other domestic and synanthropic animals, which most were previously reported as important hosts of T. cruzi in the region, were evidenced and should be taken into account as part of integrated control strategies aimed at disrupting parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Israel Moo-Millan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Audrey Arnal
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico.,Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México
| | - Silvia Pérez-Carrillo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Anette Hernandez-Andrade
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - María-Jesús Ramírez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico. .,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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12
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Keller JI, Lima-Cordón R, Monroy MC, Schmoker AM, Zhang F, Howard A, Ballif BA, Stevens L. Protein mass spectrometry detects multiple bloodmeals for enhanced Chagas disease vector ecology. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 74:103998. [PMID: 31401306 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.103998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic in Latin America, is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is responsible for significant health impacts, especially in rural communities. The parasite is transmitted by insect vectors in the Triatominae subfamily and due to lack of vaccines and limited treatment options, vector control is the main way of controlling the disease. Knowing what vectors are feeding on directly enhances our understanding of the ecology and biology of the different vector species and can potentially aid in engaging communities in active disease control, a concept known as Ecohealth management. We evaluated bloodmeals in rural community, house-caught insect vectors previously evaluated for bloodmeals via DNA analysis as part of a larger collaborative project from three countries in Central America, including Guatemala. In addition to identifying bloodmeals in 100% of all samples using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (n = 50), strikingly for 53% of these samples there was no evidence of a recent bloodmeal by DNA-PCR. As individual vectors often feed on multiple sources, we developed an enhanced detection pipeline, and showed the ability to quantify a bloodmeal using stable-isotope-containing synthetic references peptides, a first step in further exploration of species-specific bloodmeal composition. Furthermore, we show that a lower resolution mass spectrometer is sufficient to correctly identify taxa from bloodmeals, an important and strong attribute of our LC-MS/MS-based method, opening the door to using proteomics in countries where Chagas disease is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith I Keller
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Raquel Lima-Cordón
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - M Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Edificio T-10 Ciudad Universitaria Zona 12, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Anna M Schmoker
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Alan Howard
- Statistical Software Support and Consulting Services, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Bryan A Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
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13
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Nieto-Sanchez C, Bates BR, Guerrero D, Jimenez S, Baus EG, Peeters Grietens K, Grijalva MJ. Home improvement and system-based health promotion for sustainable prevention of Chagas disease: A qualitative study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007472. [PMID: 31194754 PMCID: PMC6592574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human transmission of Chagas disease (CD) most commonly occurs in domiciliary spaces where triatomines remain hidden to feed on blood sources during inhabitants' sleep. Similar to other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), sustainable control of CD requires attention to the structural conditions of life of populations at risk, in this case, the conditions of their living environments. Considering socio-cultural and political dynamics involved in dwellings' construction, this study aimed to explore social factors that contribute or limit sustainability of CD's prevention models focused on home improvement. METHODS AND MAIN FINDINGS Using Healthy Homes for Healthy Living (HHHL)-a health promotion strategy focused on improvement of living environments and system-based health promotion-as a reference, a qualitative study was conducted. Research participants were selected from three rural communities of a CD endemic region in southern Ecuador involved in HHHL's refurbishment and reconstruction interventions between 2013 and 2016. Folowing an ethnographic approach, data were collected through interviews, participant observation, informal conversations and document analysis. Our results indicate that the HHHL model addressed risk factors for CD at the household level, while simultaneously promoting wellbeing at emotional, economic and social levels in local communities. We argue that sustainability of the CD prevention model proposed by HHHL is enhanced by the confluence of three factors: systemic improvement of families' quality of life, perceived usefulness of control measures, and flexibility to adapt to emerging dynamics of the context. CONCLUSION HHHL's proposed home improvement, facilitated through system-based rather than disease specific health promotion processes, enhances agency in populations at risk and facilitates community partnerships forged around CD prevention. Although an independent analysis of cost-effectiveness is recommended, structural poverty experienced by local families is still the most important factor to consider when evaluating the sustainability and scalability of this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Nieto-Sanchez
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America
- Medical Anthropology Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Benjamin R. Bates
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America
- School of Communication Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Darwin Guerrero
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sylvia Jimenez
- Facultad de Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Esteban G. Baus
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Koen Peeters Grietens
- Medical Anthropology Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mario J. Grijalva
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America
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Beatty NL, Behrens-Bradley N, Love M, McCants F, Smith S, Schmidt JO, Hamer SA, Dorn PL, Ahmad N, Klotz SA. Rapid detection of human blood in triatomines (kissing bugs) utilizing a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay - A pilot study. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e190047. [PMID: 31166422 PMCID: PMC6543902 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We tested a rapid and specific immunochromatographic assay (that detects human blood in forensic samples) to determine if human blood was present in triatomines and their fecal excreta. METHODS We fed Triatoma rubida human blood (positive control) or mouse blood (negative control) and performed the assay on the abdominal contents and fecal excreta. Triatomine field specimens collected in and around human habitations and excreta were also tested. FINDINGS The assay was positive in triatomines fed human blood (N = 5/5) and fecal excreta from bugs known to have ingested human blood (N = 5/5). Bugs feeding on mice (N = 15/15) and their fecal excreta (N = 8/8) were negative for human blood. Human blood was detected in 47% (N = 23/49) triatomines, representing six different species, collected in the field. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The pilot study shows that this rapid and specific test may have applications in triatomine research. Further study is needed to determine the sensitivity of this assay compared to other well-established techniques, such as DNA- and proteomics-based methodologies and the assay’s application in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Beatty
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Nicole Behrens-Bradley
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Maria Love
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Finn McCants
- Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Shannon Smith
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Justin O Schmidt
- Southwestern Biological Institute, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Texas A&M University, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Patricia L Dorn
- Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Nafees Ahmad
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Immunobiology, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Stephen A Klotz
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
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15
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Chagas Disease in Central America: Recent Findings and Current Challenges in Vector Ecology and Control. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-019-00175-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Lima-Cordón RA, Stevens L, Solórzano Ortíz E, Rodas GA, Castellanos S, Rodas A, Abrego V, Zúniga Valeriano C, Monroy MC. Implementation science: Epidemiology and feeding profiles of the Chagas vector Triatoma dimidiata prior to Ecohealth intervention for three locations in Central America. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006952. [PMID: 30485265 PMCID: PMC6287883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ecohealth strategy is a multidisciplinary data-driven approach used to improve the quality of people's lives in Chagas disease endemic areas, such as regions of Central America. Chagas is a vector-borne disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Central America, the main vector is Triatoma dimidiata. Because successful implementation of the Ecohealth approach reduced home infestation in Jutiapa department, Guatemala, it was scaled-up to three localities, one in each of three Central American countries (Texistepeque, El Salvador; San Marcos de la Sierra, Honduras and Olopa, Guatemala). As a basis for the house improvement phase of the Ecohealth program, we determined if the localities differ in the role of sylvatic, synanthropic and domestic animals in the Chagas transmission cycle by measuring entomological indices, blood meal sources and parasite infection from vectors collected in and around houses. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with taxa specific primers to detect both, blood sources and parasite infection, was used to assess 71 T. dimidiata from Texistepeque, 84 from San Marcos de la Sierra and 568 from Olopa. Our results show that infestation (12.98%) and colonization (8.95%) indices were highest in Olopa; whereas T. cruzi prevalence was higher in Texistepeque and San Marcos de la Sierra (>40%) than Olopa (8%). The blood meal source profiles showed that in Olopa, opossum might be important in linking the sylvatic and domestic Chagas transmission cycle, whereas in San Marcos de la Sierra dogs play a major role in maintaining domestic transmission. For Texistepeque, bird was the major blood meal source followed by human. When examining the different life stages, we found that in Olopa, the proportion bugs infected with T. cruzi is higher in adults than nymphs. These findings highlight the importance of location-based recommendations for decreasing human-vector contact in the control of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Asunción Lima-Cordón
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Solórzano Ortíz
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Gabriela Anaité Rodas
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Salvador Castellanos
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Antonieta Rodas
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Vianney Abrego
- Centro de Investigación y desarrollo en salud (CENSALUD-CID), Universidad de El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | | | - María Carlota Monroy
- The Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory at Biology School, Pharmacy Faculty, San Carlos University of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
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17
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Orantes LC, Monroy C, Dorn PL, Stevens L, Rizzo DM, Morrissey L, Hanley JP, Rodas AG, Richards B, Wallin KF, Helms Cahan S. Uncovering vector, parasite, blood meal and microbiome patterns from mixed-DNA specimens of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma dimidiata. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006730. [PMID: 30335763 PMCID: PMC6193617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organization, is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and transmitted by >140 triatomine species across the Americas. In Central America, the main vector is Triatoma dimidiata, an opportunistic blood meal feeder inhabiting both domestic and sylvatic ecotopes. Given the diversity of interacting biological agents involved in the epidemiology of Chagas disease, having simultaneous information on the dynamics of the parasite, vector, the gut microbiome of the vector, and the blood meal source would facilitate identifying key biotic factors associated with the risk of T. cruzi transmission. In this study, we developed a RADseq-based analysis pipeline to study mixed-species DNA extracted from T. dimidiata abdomens. To evaluate the efficacy of the method across spatial scales, we used a nested spatial sampling design that spanned from individual villages within Guatemala to major biogeographic regions of Central America. Information from each biotic source was distinguished with bioinformatics tools and used to evaluate the prevalence of T. cruzi infection and predominant Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) in the region, the population genetic structure of T. dimidiata, gut microbial diversity, and the blood meal history. An average of 3.25 million reads per specimen were obtained, with approximately 1% assigned to the parasite, 20% to the vector, 11% to bacteria, and 4% to putative blood meals. Using a total of 6,405 T. cruzi SNPs, we detected nine infected vectors harboring two distinct DTUs: TcI and a second unidentified strain, possibly TcIV. Vector specimens were sufficiently variable for population genomic analyses, with a total of 25,710 T. dimidiata SNPs across all samples that were sufficient to detect geographic genetic structure at both local and regional scales. We observed a diverse microbiotic community, with significantly higher bacterial species richness in infected T. dimidiata abdomens than those that were not infected. Unifrac analysis suggests a common assemblage of bacteria associated with infection, which co-occurs with the typical gut microbial community derived from the local environment. We identified vertebrate blood meals from five T. dimidiata abdomens, including chicken, dog, duck and human; however, additional detection methods would be necessary to confidently identify blood meal sources from most specimens. Overall, our study shows this method is effective for simultaneously generating genetic data on vectors and their associated parasites, along with ecological information on feeding patterns and microbial interactions that may be followed up with complementary approaches such as PCR-based parasite detection, 18S eukaryotic and 16S bacterial barcoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia C. Orantes
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Patricia L. Dorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Donna M. Rizzo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Leslie Morrissey
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - John P. Hanley
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Antonieta Guadalupe Rodas
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Bethany Richards
- Department of Biological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kimberly F. Wallin
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Sara Helms Cahan
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Keller JI, Schmidt JO, Schmoker AM, Ballif BA, Stevens L. Protein mass spectrometry extends temporal blood meal detection over polymerase chain reaction in mouse-fed Chagas disease vectors. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:e180160. [PMID: 30277492 PMCID: PMC6167943 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is highly prevalent in Latin America, and vector control is the most effective control strategy to date. We have previously shown that liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a valuable tool for identifying triatomine vector blood meals. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine blood meal detection ability as a function of method [polymerase chain reaction (PCR) vs. LC-MS/MS], time since feeding, and the effect of molting in mouse-fed triatomine insect vectors targeting hemoglobin and albumin proteins with LC-MS/MS and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINE)-based PCR. METHODS We experimentally fed Triatoma protracta on mice and used LC-MS/MS to detect hemoglobin and albumin peptides over time post-feeding and post-molting (≤ 12 weeks). We compared LC-MS/MS results with those of a standard PCR method based on SINEs. FINDINGS Hemoglobin-based LC-MS/MS detected blood meals most robustly at all time points post-feeding. Post-molting, no blood meals were detected with PCR, whereas LC-MS/MS detected mouse hemoglobin and albumin up to 12 weeks. MAIN CONCLUSIONS In our study, the hemoglobin signature in the insect abdomen lasted longer than that of albumin and DNA. LC-MS/MS using hemoglobin shows promise for identifying triatomine blood meals over long temporal scales and even post-molting. Clarifying the frequency of blood-feeding on different hosts can foster our understanding of vector behavior and may help devise sounder disease-control strategies, including Ecohealth (community based ecosystem management) approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith I Keller
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Justin O Schmidt
- Southwestern Biological Institute, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Anna M Schmoker
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Bryan A Ballif
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, Burlington, VT, United States of America
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Detailed ecological associations of triatomines revealed by metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing: implications for triatomine behavior and Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29515202 PMCID: PMC5841364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22455-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the agent of Chagas disease, transmitted by hematophagous triatomine vectors. Establishing transmission cycles is key to understand the epidemiology of the disease, but integrative assessments of ecological interactions shaping parasite transmission are still limited. Current approaches also lack sensitivity to assess the full extent of this ecological diversity. Here we developed a metabarcoding approach based on next-generation sequencing to identify triatomine gut microbiome, vertebrate feeding hosts, and parasite diversity and their potential interactions. We detected a dynamic microbiome in Triatoma dimidiata, including 23 bacterial orders, which differed according to blood sources. Fourteen vertebrate species served as blood sources, corresponding to domestic, synantropic and sylvatic species, although four (human, dog, cow and mice) accounted for over 50% of blood sources. Importantly, bugs fed on multiple hosts, with up to 11 hosts identified per bug, indicating very frequent host-switching. A high clonal diversity of T. cruzi was detected, with up to 20 haplotypes per bug. This analysis provided much greater sensitivity to detect multiple blood meals and multiclonal infections with T. cruzi, which should be taken into account to develop transmission networks, and characterize the risk for human infection, eventually leading to a better control of disease transmission.
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Keller JI, Ballif BA, St. Clair RM, Vincent JJ, Monroy MC, Stevens L. Chagas disease vector blood meal sources identified by protein mass spectrometry. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189647. [PMID: 29232402 PMCID: PMC5726658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a complex vector borne parasitic disease involving blood feeding Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) insects, also known as kissing bugs, and the vertebrates they feed on. This disease has tremendous impacts on millions of people and is a global health problem. The etiological agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), is deposited on the mammalian host in the insect’s feces during a blood meal, and enters the host’s blood stream through mucous membranes or a break in the skin. Identifying the blood meal sources of triatomine vectors is critical in understanding Chagas disease transmission dynamics, can lead to identification of other vertebrates important in the transmission cycle, and aids management decisions. The latter is particularly important as there is little in the way of effective therapeutics for Chagas disease. Several techniques, mostly DNA-based, are available for blood meal identification. However, further methods are needed, particularly when sample conditions lead to low-quality DNA or to assess the risk of human cross-contamination. We demonstrate a proteomics-based approach, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify host-specific hemoglobin peptides for blood meal identification in mouse blood control samples and apply LC-MS/MS for the first time to Triatoma dimidiata insect vectors, tracing blood sources to species. In contrast to most proteins, hemoglobin, stabilized by iron, is incredibly stable even being preserved through geologic time. We compared blood stored with and without an anticoagulant and examined field-collected insect specimens stored in suboptimal conditions such as at room temperature for long periods of time. To our knowledge, this is the first study using LC-MS/MS on field-collected arthropod disease vectors to identify blood meal composition, and where blood meal identification was confirmed with more traditional DNA-based methods. We also demonstrate the potential of synthetic peptide standards to estimate relative amounts of hemoglobin acquired when insects feed on multiple blood sources. These LC-MS/MS methods can contribute to developing Ecohealth control strategies for Chagas disease transmission and can be applied to other arthropod disease vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith I. Keller
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Bryan A. Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LS); (BAB)
| | - Riley M. St. Clair
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - James J. Vincent
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - M. Carlota Monroy
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LS); (BAB)
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Triana DRR, Mertens F, Zúniga CV, Mendoza Y, Nakano EY, Monroy MC. The Role of Gender in Chagas Disease Prevention and Control in Honduras: An Analysis of Communication and Collaboration Networks. ECOHEALTH 2016; 13:535-548. [PMID: 27405994 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-016-1141-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In Honduras, where Chagas disease is a serious health and environmental concern, prevention measures face the challenge of achieving widespread and long-term sustainable adoption by communities. The article integrates social network analysis and a gender-sensitive approach to understand the role of men and women in the implementation of a community-level intervention, based on the adoption of housing improvements to reduce the presence of the insect vector. A total of 108 people in the community of El Salitre were interviewed. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, participation in project activities, communication and collaboration networks related to Chagas disease prevention, knowledge of Chagas disease, and adoption of housing improvements techniques. Communication mostly occurred between the same gender individuals and was associated with knowledge of Chagas disease. Socioeconomic status, Chagas disease knowledge, and collaboration with men were associated with women adopting housing improvements. For men, however, participation in project activities, formal education, and collaboration with women were associated with adoption. These findings suggest that men and women were driven by distinct concerns, interests, and motivations when adopting new Chagas disease prevention strategies. Participatory community interventions that seek to generate health knowledge and foster collaborations to reduce health risk should address gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frédéric Mertens
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, 70910-900, DF, Brazil.
- Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health in Latin America and the Caribbean (CoPEH-LAC), Brasília, Brazil.
| | | | - Yolanda Mendoza
- Ecohealth Field Building Leadership in Prevention and Control of Vector Borne Diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | | | - Maria Carlota Monroy
- Laboratorio de entomologia aplicada y Parasitología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala
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Gorchakov R, Trosclair LP, Wozniak EJ, Feria PT, Garcia MN, Gunter SM, Murray KO. Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Prevalence and Bloodmeal Analysis in Triatomine Vectors of Chagas Disease From Rural Peridomestic Locations in Texas, 2013-2014. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:911-918. [PMID: 27106934 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, which affects millions of people in Latin America. Recently, the disease has been gaining attention in Texas and the southern United States. Transmission cycle of the parasite involves alternating infection between insect vectors and vertebrate hosts (including humans, wildlife, and domestic animals). To evaluate vector T. cruzi parasite burden and feeding patterns, we tested triatomine vectors from 23 central, southern, and northeastern counties of Texas. Out of the 68 submitted specimens, the majority were genetically identified as Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stal, 1859), with a few samples of Triatoma sanguisuga (LeConte, 1855), Triatoma lecticularia (Stal, 1859), Triatoma rubida (Uhler, 1894), and Triatoma protracta woodi (Usinger, 1939). We found almost two-thirds of the submitted insects were polymerase chain reaction-positive for T. cruzi Bloodmeal sources were determined for most of the insects, and 16 different species of mammals were identified as hosts. The most prevalent type of bloodmeal was human, with over half of these insects found to be positive for T. cruzi High infection rate of the triatomine vectors combined with high incidence of feeding on humans highlight the importance of Chagas disease surveillance in Texas. With our previous findings of autochthonous transmission of Chagas disease, urgent measures are needed to increase public awareness, vector control in and around homes, and Chagas screening of residents who present with a history of a triatomine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodion Gorchakov
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, One Baylor Plaza, BCM320, Houston, TX 77030 (; ; ; )
| | - Lillian P Trosclair
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, One Baylor Plaza, BCM320, Houston, TX 77030 (; ; ; )
| | - Edward J Wozniak
- Zoonosis Control Unit, Health Service Region 8, Texas Department of State Health Services, 112 Joe Carper Drive, Uvalde, TX 78801
| | - Patricia T Feria
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Dr., Edinburg, TX 78539
| | - Melissa N Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, One Baylor Plaza, BCM320, Houston, TX 77030 (; ; ; )
| | - Sarah M Gunter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030 , and
| | - Kristy O Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, One Baylor Plaza, BCM320, Houston, TX 77030 (; ; ; ),
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Wong YY, Sornosa Macias KJ, Guale Martínez D, Solorzano LF, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Herrera C, Dumonteil E. Molecular epidemiology of Trypanosoma cruzi and Triatoma dimidiata in costal Ecuador. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 41:207-212. [PMID: 27079265 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Ecuador, Triatoma dimidiata and Rhodnius ecuadoriensis are the main vector species, responsible for over half of the cases of T. cruzi infection in the country. T. dimidiata is believed to have been introduced in Ecuador during colonial times, and its elimination from the country is thus believed to be feasible. We investigated here the molecular ecology of T. dimidiata and T. cruzi in costal Ecuador to further guide control efforts. Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS-2) of 23 specimens from Progreso, Guayas, unambiguously supported the likely importation of T. dimidiata from Central America to Ecuador. The observation of a very high parasite infection rate (54%) and frequent feeding on humans (3/5) confirmed a continued risk of transmission to humans. All genotyped parasites corresponded to TcI DTU and Trypanosoma rangeli was not detected in T. dimidiata. TcI subgroups corresponded to TcIa (25%), and mixed infections with TcIa and TcId (75%). Further studies should help clarify T. cruzi genetic structure in the country, and the possible impact of the introduction of T. dimidiata on the circulating parasite strains. The elevated risk posed by this species warrants continuing efforts for its control, but its apparent mobility between peridomestic and domestic habitats may favor reinfestation following insecticide spraying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yim Yan Wong
- Centro de Referencia Nacional de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública Leopoldo Izquieta Perez (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Karen Jeniffer Sornosa Macias
- Centro de Referencia Nacional de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública Leopoldo Izquieta Perez (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Doris Guale Martínez
- Centro de Referencia Nacional de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública Leopoldo Izquieta Perez (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Luis F Solorzano
- Centro de Referencia Nacional de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública Leopoldo Izquieta Perez (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Maria Jesus Ramirez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infection Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Centro de Referencia Nacional de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública Leopoldo Izquieta Perez (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Department of Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne Infection Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Gürtler RE, Yadon ZE. Eco-bio-social research on community-based approaches for Chagas disease vector control in Latin America. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2015; 109:91-8. [PMID: 25604759 PMCID: PMC4299528 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This article provides an overview of three research projects which designed and implemented innovative interventions for Chagas disease vector control in Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico. The research initiative was based on sound principles of community-based ecosystem management (ecohealth), integrated vector management, and interdisciplinary analysis. The initial situational analysis achieved a better understanding of ecological, biological and social determinants of domestic infestation. The key factors identified included: housing quality; type of peridomestic habitats; presence and abundance of domestic dogs, chickens and synanthropic rodents; proximity to public lights; location in the periphery of the village. In Bolivia, plastering of mud walls with appropriate local materials and regular cleaning of beds and of clothes next to the walls, substantially decreased domestic infestation and abundance of the insect vector Triatoma infestans. The Guatemalan project revealed close links between house infestation by rodents and Triatoma dimidiata, and vector infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. A novel community-operated rodent control program significantly reduced rodent infestation and bug infection. In Mexico, large-scale implementation of window screens translated into promising reductions in domestic infestation. A multi-pronged approach including community mobilisation and empowerment, intersectoral cooperation and adhesion to integrated vector management principles may be the key to sustainable vector and disease control in the affected regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo E Gürtler
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology, Department of Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Universidad de Buenos Aires-IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Zaida E Yadon
- Communicable Diseases Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., USA
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Waleckx E, Gourbière S, Dumonteil E. Intrusive versus domiciliated triatomines and the challenge of adapting vector control practices against Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:324-38. [PMID: 25993504 PMCID: PMC4489470 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760140409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease prevention remains mostly based on triatomine vector control to reduce or eliminate house infestation with these bugs. The level of adaptation of triatomines to human housing is a key part of vector competence and needs to be precisely evaluated to allow for the design of effective vector control strategies. In this review, we examine how the domiciliation/intrusion level of different triatomine species/populations has been defined and measured and discuss how these concepts may be improved for a better understanding of their ecology and evolution, as well as for the design of more effective control strategies against a large variety of triatomine species. We suggest that a major limitation of current criteria for classifying triatomines into sylvatic, intrusive, domiciliary and domestic species is that these are essentially qualitative and do not rely on quantitative variables measuring population sustainability and fitness in their different habitats. However, such assessments may be derived from further analysis and modelling of field data. Such approaches can shed new light on the domiciliation process of triatomines and may represent a key tool for decision-making and the design of vector control interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Waleckx
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr
Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Sébastien Gourbière
- Institut de Modélisation et d’Analyses en Géo-Environnement et Santé,
Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr
Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
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Bustamante Zamora DM, Hernández MM, Torres N, Zúniga C, Sosa W, de Abrego V, Monroy Escobar MC. Information to act: household characteristics are predictors of domestic infestation with the Chagas vector Triatoma dimidiata in Central America. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:97-107. [PMID: 25870430 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The interruption of vectorial transmission of Chagas disease by Triatoma dimidiata in central America is a public health challenge that cannot be resolved by insecticide application alone. In this study, we collected information on previously known household risk factors for infestation in 11 villages and more than 2,000 houses in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, and we constructed multivariate models and used multimodel inference to evaluate their importance as predictors of infestation in the region. The models had moderate ability to predict infested houses (sensitivity, 0.32-0.54) and excellent ability to predict noninfested houses (specificity higher than 0.90). Predictive ability was improved by including random village effects and presence of signs of infestation (insect feces, eggs, and exuviae) as fixed effects. Multimodel inference results varied depending on factors included, but house wall materials (adobe, bajareque, and palopique) and signs of infestation were among the most important predictive factors. Reduced models were not supported suggesting that all factors contributed to predictions. Previous knowledge and information from this study show that we have evidence to prioritize rural households for improvement to prevent house infestation with Triatoma dimidiata in Central America. House improvement will most likely have other health co-benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulce María Bustamante Zamora
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Marianela Menes Hernández
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Nuria Torres
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Concepción Zúniga
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Wilfredo Sosa
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Vianney de Abrego
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - María Carlota Monroy Escobar
- Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada y Parasitología, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; Administración Académica, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador; Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Programa Nacional de Prevención y Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Secretaría de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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Lucero DE, Ribera W, Pizarro JC, Plaza C, Gordon LW, Peña R, Morrissey LA, Rizzo DM, Stevens L. Sources of blood meals of sylvatic Triatoma guasayana near Zurima, Bolivia, assayed with qPCR and 12S cloning. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3365. [PMID: 25474154 PMCID: PMC4256209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In this study we compared the utility of two molecular biology techniques, cloning of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and hydrolysis probe-based qPCR, to identify blood meal sources of sylvatic Chagas disease insect vectors collected with live-bait mouse traps (also known as Noireau traps). Fourteen T. guasayana were collected from six georeferenced trap locations in the Andean highlands of the department of Chuquisaca, Bolivia. Methodology/Principal Findings We detected four blood meals sources with the cloning assay: seven samples were positive for human (Homo sapiens), five for chicken (Gallus gallus) and unicolored blackbird (Agelasticus cyanopus), and one for opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Using the qPCR assay we detected chicken (13 vectors), and human (14 vectors) blood meals as well as an additional blood meal source, Canis sp. (4 vectors). Conclusions/Significance We show that cloning of 12S PCR products, which avoids bias associated with developing primers based on a priori knowledge, detected blood meal sources not previously considered and that species-specific qPCR is more sensitive. All samples identified as positive for a specific blood meal source by the cloning assay were also positive by qPCR. However, not all samples positive by qPCR were positive by cloning. We show the power of combining the cloning assay with the highly sensitive hydrolysis probe-based qPCR assay provides a more complete picture of blood meal sources for insect disease vectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 7 to 8 million people are currently infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. The WHO recommends insect vector control as the primary prevention method; and insecticide spraying is the most commonly used intervention technique. Sylvatic insect vectors are a special concern because they are a source of reinfestation after insecticides have been applied to living quarters (domestic) and immediate surroundings (peridomestic). To better understand sylvatic insect vector movement, we used two molecular biology techniques to detect the blood meal sources of sylvatic insect vectors. The first technique, cloning of 12S PCR products, allows us to cast a wide net and detect blood meal sources with no previous knowledge of vertebrates or mammals in the study site. After acquiring knowledge of vertebrates in the study site (either through the aforementioned cloning technique, literature review or survey of the area), the second technique, the species-specific hydrolysis probe-based qPCR provides a highly sensitive assay for particular taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Lucero
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Vector-borne Diseases Section, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Wilma Ribera
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Juan Carlos Pizarro
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Carlos Plaza
- Departamento de Entomología, Servicio Departamental de Salud, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Levi W. Gordon
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Reynaldo Peña
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Leslie A. Morrissey
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Donna M. Rizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lori Stevens
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Ecological, social and biological risk factors for continued Trypanosoma cruzi transmission by Triatoma dimidiata in Guatemala. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104599. [PMID: 25170955 PMCID: PMC4149347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease transmission by Triatoma dimidiata persists in Guatemala and elsewhere in Central America under undefined ecological, biological and social (eco-bio-social) conditions. Methodology Eco-bio-social risk factors associated with persistent domiciliary infestation were identified by a cross-sectional survey and qualitative participatory methods. Quantitative and qualitative data were generated regarding Trypanosoma cruzi reservoirs and triatomine hosts. Blood meal analysis and infection of insects, dogs and rodents were determined. Based on these data, multimodel inference was used to identify risk factors for domestic infestation with the greatest relative importance (>0.75). Principal Findings Blood meal analysis showed that 64% of 36 bugs fed on chickens, 50% on humans, 17% on dogs; 24% of 34 bugs fed on Rattus rattus and 21% on Mus musculus. Seroprevalence among 80 dogs was 37%. Eight (17%) of 46 M. musculus and three (43%) of seven R. rattus from households with infected triatomines were infected with T. cruzi Distinct Typing Unit I. Results from interviews and participatory meetings indicated that vector control personnel and some householders perceived chickens roosting and laying eggs in the house as bug infestation risk factors. House construction practices were seen as a risk factor for bug and rodent infestation, with rodents being perceived as a pest by study participants. Multimodel inference showed that house infestation risk factors of high relative importance are dog density, mouse presence, interior wall plaster condition, dirt floor, tile roofing and coffee tree presence. Conclusions/Significance Persistent house infestation is closely related to eco-bio-social factors that maintain productive T. dimidiata habitats associated with dogs, chickens and rodents. Triatomine, dog and rodent infections indicate active T. cruzi transmission. Integrated vector control methods should include actions that consider the role of peridomestic animals in transmission and community memberś level of knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with the disease and transmission process.
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Roellig DM, Gomez-Puerta LA, Mead DG, Pinto J, Ancca-Juarez J, Calderon M, Bern C, Gilman RH, Cama VA. Hemi-nested PCR and RFLP methodologies for identifying blood meals of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74713. [PMID: 24040328 PMCID: PMC3770599 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted by hematophagous reduviid bugs within the subfamily Triatominae. These vectors take blood meals from a wide range of hosts, and their feeding behaviors have been used to investigate the ecology and epidemiology of T. cruzi. In this study we describe two PCR-based methodologies that amplify a fragment of the 16S mitochondrial rDNA, aimed to improve the identification of blood meal sources for Triatoma infestans: a.- Sequence analyses of two heminested PCRs that allow the identification of mammalian and avian species, and b.- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis from the mammalian PCR to identify and differentiate multi-host blood meals. Findings from both methodologies indicate that host DNA could be detected and the host species identified in samples from laboratory reared and field collected triatomines. The implications of this study are two-fold. First, these methods can be used in areas where the fauna diversity and feeding behavior of the triatomines are unknown. Secondly, the RFLP method led to the identification of multi-host DNA from T. infestans gut contents, enhancing the information provided by this assay. These tools are important contributions for ecological and epidemiological studies of vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn M. Roellig
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Daniel G. Mead
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jesus Pinto
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima Peru
| | | | | | - Caryn Bern
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Gilman
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vitaliano A. Cama
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Lucero DE, Morrissey LA, Rizzo DM, Rodas A, Garnica R, Stevens L, Bustamante DM, Monroy MC. Ecohealth interventions limit triatomine reinfestation following insecticide spraying in La Brea, Guatemala. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 88:630-7. [PMID: 23382173 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluate the effect of participatory Ecohealth interventions on domestic reinfestation of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma dimidiata after village-wide suppression of the vector population using a residual insecticide. The study was conducted in the rural community of La Brea, Guatemala between 2002 and 2009 where vector infestation was analyzed within a spatial data framework based on entomological and socio-economic surveys of homesteads within the village. Participatory interventions focused on community awareness and low-cost home improvements using local materials to limit areas of refuge and alternative blood meals for the vector within the home, and potential shelter for the vector outside the home. As a result, domestic infestation was maintained at ≤ 3% and peridomestic infestation at ≤ 2% for 5 years beyond the last insecticide spraying, in sharp contrast to the rapid reinfestation experienced in earlier insecticide only interventions.
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