The presence in Bolivia of two distinct zymodemes of Trypanosoma cruzi, circulating sympatrically in a domestic transmission cycle

AbstractEighteen strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from two species of triatomines in the state of Paraná, Brazil, were characterized molecularly using three strategies: RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) with four primers, analysis of the D7 polymorphic region of the 24Sα rDNA, and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of region 5′ of the mitochondrial gene COII (cytochrome oxidase subunit 2). The phenogram constructed with the RAPD data showed that only three strains isolated from Panstrongylus megistus collected in the Municipality of Arapongas were grouped together in a sub-branch. None of the other 15 strains could be clustered according to triatomine species or geographical origin. The strains were grouped with the T. cruzi I reference sample, indicating closer association with the sylvatic transmission cycle of T. cruzi in the state of Paraná. However, analyses of the rDNA and COII gene polymorphisms revealed the presence of populations from both T. cruzi I and II major lineages. In half of the analyzed triatomines, we found parasites from both lineages coinfecting the same bugs. Of these, most (6/9) were isolated from Triatoma sordida, and 3/9 from Panstrongylus megistus. These results contribute to a better comprehension of the ecoepidemiology of Chagas’ disease in Paraná, and raise questions about the role of studies of polyclonal population dynamics for controlling the transmission of T. cruzi to humans in this region.

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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 ◽

10.1093/jme/tjw040 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 911-918 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Rodion Gorchakov ◽

Lillian P. Trosclair ◽

Edward J. Wozniak ◽

Patricia T. Feria ◽

Melissa N. Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Etiologic Agent ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Transmission Cycle ◽

High Infection ◽

History Of

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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Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites infecting dogs in southern Louisiana sheds light on parasite transmission cycles and serological diagnostic performance

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0008932 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. e0008932

Author(s):

Eric Dumonteil ◽

Ardem Elmayan ◽

Alicia Majeau ◽

Weihong Tu ◽

Brandy Duhon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Test Performance ◽

Serological Test ◽

Parasite Transmission ◽

Parasite Diversity ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Transmission Cycle ◽

Southern Us ◽

Transmission Cycles

Background Chagas disease is a neglected zoonosis of growing concern in the southern US, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We genotyped parasites in a large cohort of PCR positive dogs to shed light on parasite transmission cycles and assess potential relationships between parasite diversity and serological test performance. Methodology/principal findings We used a metabarcoding approach based on deep sequencing of T. cruzi mini-exon marker to assess parasite diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of 178 sequences from 40 dogs confirmed the presence of T. cruzi discrete typing unit (DTU) TcI and TcIV, as well as TcII, TcV and TcVI for the first time in US dogs. Infections with multiple DTUs occurred in 38% of the dogs. These data indicate a greater genetic diversity of T. cruzi than previously detected in the US. Comparison of T. cruzi sequence diversity indicated that highly similar T. cruzi strains from these DTUs circulate in hosts and vectors in Louisiana, indicating that they are involved in a shared T. cruzi parasite transmission cycle. However, TcIV and TcV were sampled more frequently in vectors, while TcII and TcVI were sampled more frequently in dogs. Conclusions/significance These observations point to ecological host-fitting being a dominant mechanism involved in the diversification of T. cruzi-host associations. Dogs with negative, discordant or confirmed positive T. cruzi serology harbored TcI parasites with different mini-exon sequences, which strongly supports the hypothesis that parasite genetic diversity is a key factor affecting serological test performance. Thus, the identification of conserved parasite antigens should be a high priority for the improvement of current serological tests.

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TcI Isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi Exploit the Antioxidant Network for Enhanced Intracellular Survival in Macrophages and Virulence in Mice

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00193-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 84 (6) ◽

pp. 1842-1856 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

María Paola Zago ◽

Yashoda M. Hosakote ◽

Sue-jie Koo ◽

Monisha Dhiman ◽

María Dolores Piñeyro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Biological Behavior ◽

Data Sets ◽

Proteomic Profiling ◽

Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Content Type ◽

Transmission Cycle ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽

And Control

Trypanosoma cruzispecies is categorized into six discrete typing units (TcI to TcVI) of which TcI is most abundantly noted in the sylvatic transmission cycle and considered the major cause of human disease. In our study, the TcI strains Colombiana (COL), SylvioX10/4 (SYL), and a cultured clone (TCC) exhibited different biological behavior in a murine model, ranging from high parasitemia and symptomatic cardiomyopathy (SYL), mild parasitemia and high tissue tropism (COL), to no pathogenicity (TCC). Proteomic profiling of the insect (epimastigote) and infective (trypomastigote) forms by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis/matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry, followed by functional annotation of the differential proteome data sets (≥2-fold change,P< 0.05), showed that several proteins involved in (i) cytoskeletal assembly and remodeling, essential for flagellar wave frequency and amplitude and forward motility of the parasite, and (ii) the parasite-specific antioxidant network were enhanced in COL and SYL (versus TCC) trypomastigotes. Western blotting confirmed the enhanced protein levels of cytosolic and mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidases and their substrate (tryparedoxin) and iron superoxide dismutase in COL and SYL (versus TCC) trypomastigotes. Further, COL and SYL (but not TCC) were resistant to exogenous treatment with stable oxidants (H2O2and peroxynitrite [ONOO−]) and dampened the intracellular superoxide and nitric oxide response in macrophages, and thus these isolates escaped from macrophages. Our findings suggest that protein expression conducive to increase in motility and control of macrophage-derived free radicals provides survival and persistence benefits to TcI isolates ofT. cruzi.

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The Chagas disease domestic transmission cycle in Guatemala: Parasite-vector switches and lack of mitochondrial co-diversification between Triatoma dimidiata and Trypanosoma cruzi subpopulations suggest non-vectorial parasite dispersal across the Motagua valley

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.07.014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 151 ◽

pp. 80-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pamela M. Pennington ◽

Louisa Alexandra Messenger ◽

Jeffrey Reina ◽

José G. Juárez ◽

Gena G. Lawrence ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Transmission Cycle

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The sylvatic transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area in the humid Chaco of Argentina

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.06.010 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 124 (1) ◽

pp. 79-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

J.A. Alvarado-Otegui ◽

L.A. Ceballos ◽

M.M. Orozco ◽

G.F. Enriquez ◽

M.V. Cardinal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Rural Area ◽

Transmission Cycle

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Diversity and interactions among triatomine bugs, their blood feeding sources, gut microbiota and Trypanosoma cruzi in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-91783-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Claribel Murillo-Solano ◽

Jaime López-Domínguez ◽

Rafael Gongora ◽

Andres Rojas-Gulloso ◽

Jose Usme-Ciro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Sierra Nevada ◽

Disease Ecology ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Vector Species ◽

Transmission Cycle ◽

Feeding Sources

AbstractChagas disease remains a major neglected disease in Colombia. We aimed to characterize Trypanosoma cruzi transmission networks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) region, to shed light on disease ecology and help optimize control strategies. Triatomines were collected in rural communities and analyzed for blood feeding sources, parasite diversity and gut microbiota composition through a metagenomic and deep sequencing approach. Triatoma dimidiata predominated, followed by Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma maculata, Rhodnius pallescens, Panstrongylus geniculatus and Eratyrus cuspidatus. Twenty-two species were identified as blood sources, resulting in an integrated transmission network with extensive connectivity among sylvatic and domestic host species. Only TcI parasites were detected, predominantly from TcIb but TcIa was also reported. The close relatedness of T. cruzi strains further supported the lack of separate transmission cycles according to habitats or triatomine species. Triatomine microbiota varied according to species, developmental stage and T. cruzi infection. Bacterial families correlated with the presence/absence of T. cruzi were identified. In conclusion, we identified a domestic transmission cycle encompassing multiple vector species and tightly connected with sylvatic hosts in the SNSM region, rather than an isolated domestic transmission cycle. Therefore, integrated interventions targeting all vector species and their contact with humans should be considered.

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Evolutionary history of Trypanosoma cruzi according to antigen genes

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182008004794 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 135 (10) ◽

pp. 1157-1164 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

M. ROZAS ◽

S. DE DONCKER ◽

X. CORONADO ◽

C. BARNABÉ ◽

M. TIBYARENC ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Molecular Mimicry ◽

Clonal Evolution ◽

Transmission Cycle ◽

Evolution Pattern ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

History Of ◽

The One ◽

Host Parasite

SUMMARYTrypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease is associated with a very high clinical and epidemiological pleomorphism. This might be better understood through studies on the evolutionary history of the parasite. We explored here the value of antigen genes for the understanding of the evolution within T. cruzi. We selected 11 genes and 12 loci associated with different functions and considered to be involved in host-parasite interaction (cell adhesion, infection, molecular mimicry). The polymorphism of the respective genes in a sample representative of the diversity of T. cruzi was screened by PCR-RFLP and evolutionary relationships were inferred by phenetic analysis. Our results support the classification of T. cruzi in 2 major lineages and 6 discrete typing units (DTUs). The topology of the PCR-RFLP tree was the one that better fitted with the epidemiological features of the different DTUs: (i) lineage I, being encountered in sylvatic as well as domestic transmission cycles, (ii) IIa/c being associated with a sylvatic transmission cycle and (iii) IIb/d/e being associated with a domestic transmission cycle. Our study also supported the hypothesis that the evolutionary history of T. cruzi has been shaped by a series of hybridization events in the framework of a predominant clonal evolution pattern.

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