Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli co-infection patterns in insect vectors vary across habitat types in a fragmented forest landscape

SUMMARYThe transmission of parasites can be influenced by their co-occurrence with other parasites, in some cases increasing or reducing transmission.Trypanosoma cruzi, aetiologic agent of Chagas disease, often co-occurs withTrypanosoma rangeli, a parasite not pathogenic for mammal hosts. Both parasites can reduce the fitness of their insect vectors (the triatomine bugs; Hemiptera: Reduviidae), withT. rangelibeing more pathogenic for some species. Here, we study the prevalence ofT. cruziandT. rangeliin the triatomineRhodnius pallescensacross a heterogeneously transformed landscape in Panamá. We found that singleT. rangeliinfections were more common in contiguously forested habitats, while singleT. cruziinfections predominated in anthropogenically disturbed habitats.Trypanosoma cruzi–T. rangelico-infections were more common in contiguous forests and in peridomiciliary areas. Furthermore, adult insects were more likely to be co-infected than nymphs. Our results suggest that human-mediated landscape transformation might have increased the predominance of single infections withT. cruziwithin vectors. An important mechanism driving changes in trypanosome infection patterns in triatomines at a landscape scale includes alterations in host species composition that may vary with different degrees of deforestation. Trypanosome co-infection may also confer a survival advantage forR. pallescensto and/or throughout adulthood.

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A darker chromatic variation of Rhodnius pallescens infected by specific genetic groups of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi from Panama

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-018-3004-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Azael Saldaña ◽

Ana María Santamaría ◽

Vanessa Pineda ◽

Vanessa Vásquez ◽

Nicole L. Gottdenker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Trypanosoma Rangeli ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Rhodnius Pallescens

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Feeding sources and trypanosome infection index of Rhodnius pallescens in a Chagas disease endemic area of Amador County, Panama

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652008000200009 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 113-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Vanessa Pineda ◽

Edilma Montalvo ◽

Dayra Alvarez ◽

Ana María Santamaría ◽

Jose Eduardo Calzada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chagas Disease ◽

Endemic Area ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Host Feeding ◽

Trypanosome Infection ◽

Trypanosoma Rangeli ◽

Infection Index ◽

Rhodnius Pallescens ◽

Feeding Sources

The sylvatic triatomine Rhodnius pallescens is considered to be the most important and widespread vector of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in Panama. However, its behavior and biological characteristics have only been partially investigated. Thus, to achieve sustainable and efficient control over Chagas disease in Panama, a better understanding of the ecology and biology of R. pallescens is essential. In this study we evaluated R. pallescens host feeding sources using a dot-blot assay, and the trypanosome infection index by PCR analysis in a Chagas disease endemic area of central Panama. It was found that in peridomestic palm trees, 20.3% of the examined bugs had fed on opossums (Didelphis marsupialis). However, we observed an increased anthropophagy (25.4%) for those bugs collected inside houses. Considering the domestic and peridomestic habitats as a whole, the proportion of collected R. pallescens infected with trypanosomes was 87.4%. In the two habitats the predominant infection was with T. cruzi (80-90%). Between 47-51% of the analyzed triatomines were infected with T. rangeli. Mixed infections (40-51%) were also detected. These findings provide a better basis for the implementation of a rational control and surveillance program for Chagas disease in regions where R. pallescens is endemic.

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Detection of Wolbachia Bacteria in Multiple Organs and Feces of the Triatomine Insect Rhodnius pallescens (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01665-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 547-550 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

C. I. Espino ◽

T. Gómez ◽

G. González ◽

M. F. Brazil do Santos ◽

J. Solano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Trypanosoma Rangeli ◽

Multiple Organs ◽

Natural Vector ◽

Rhodnius Pallescens

ABSTRACT At least two types of Wolbachia bacteria were detected in wild and insectarium-raised Rhodnius pallescens, a natural vector of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli. Wolbachia was detected in all the organs and tissues studied and in the feces, and this provided a methodological advantage for determining the presence of this endosymbiont in this host, obviating the need to kill the specimens. The occurrence of trypanosomatids in wild individuals was also studied.

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Experimental transmission of the parasitic flagellates Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli between triatomine bugs or mice and captive neotropical bats

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ◽

10.1590/s0074-02762007005000068 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 102 (5) ◽

pp. 559-565 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Maurice E Thomas ◽

John J Rasweiler IV ◽

Antonio D'Alessandro

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Trypanosoma Rangeli ◽

Experimental Transmission ◽

Triatomine Bugs ◽

Neotropical Bats

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Automated identification of insect vectors of Chagas disease in Brazil and Mexico: the Virtual Vector Lab

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3040 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3040 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves ◽

Ed Komp ◽

Lindsay P. Campbell ◽

Ali Khalighifar ◽

Jarrett Mellenbruch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Automated System ◽

Correct Identification ◽

Insect Vectors ◽

Automated Identification ◽

Considerable Potential ◽

Triatomine Bugs ◽

Fully Automated System

Identification of arthropods important in disease transmission is a crucial, yet difficult, task that can demand considerable training and experience. An important case in point is that of the 150+ species of Triatominae, vectors ofTrypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease across the Americas. We present a fully automated system that is able to identify triatomine bugs from Mexico and Brazil with an accuracy consistently above 80%, and with considerable potential for further improvement. The system processes digital photographs from a photo apparatus into landmarks, and uses ratios of measurements among those landmarks, as well as (in a preliminary exploration) two measurements that approximate aspects of coloration, as the basis for classification. This project has thus produced a working prototype that achieves reasonably robust correct identification rates, although many more developments can and will be added, and—more broadly—the project illustrates the value of multidisciplinary collaborations in resolving difficult and complex challenges.

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Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli infection in triatomine vectors by amplification of the histone H2A/SIRE and the sno-RNA-C11 genes

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652007000100005 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Paula Ximena Pavia ◽

Gustavo Adolfo Vallejo ◽

Marleny Montilla ◽

Rubén Santiago Nicholls ◽

Concepción Judith Puerta

Keyword(s):

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Variable Region ◽

Field Studies ◽

Mixed Infections ◽

Insect Vectors ◽

Histone H2a ◽

Trypanosoma Rangeli ◽

Vertebrate Hosts ◽

Set Up ◽

Nucleolar Rna

Trypanosoma rangeli is non pathogenic for humans but of important medical and epidemiological interest because it shares vertebrate hosts, insect vectors, reservoirs and geographic areas with T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Therefore, in this work, we set up two PCR reactions, TcH2AF/R and TrFR2, to distinguish T. cruzi from T. rangeli in mixed infections of vectors based on amplification of the histone H2A/SIRE and the small nucleolar RNA Cl1 genes, respectively. Both PCRs were able to appropriately detect all T. cruzi or T. rangeli experimentally infected-triatomines, as well as the S35/S36 PCR which amplifies the variable region of minicircle kDNA of T. cruzi. In mixed infections, whereas T. cruzi DNA was amplified in 100% of samples with TcH2AF/R and S35/S36 PCRs, T. rangeli was detected in 71% with TrF/R2 and in 6% with S35/S36. In a group of Rhodnius colombiensis collected from Coyaima (Colombia), T. cruzi was identified in 100% with both PCRs and T. rangeli in 14% with TrF/R2 and 10% with S35/S36 PCR. These results show that TcH2AF/R and TrF/R2 PCRs which are capable of recognizing all T. cruzi and T. rangeli strains and lineages could be useful for diagnosis as well as for epidemiological field studies of T. cruzi and T. rangeli vector infections.

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