Lizards as Silent Hosts of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>

Botto‐Mahan, Carezza; Correa, Juana P.; Araya‐Donoso, Raúl; Farías, Francisca; Juan, Esteban San; Quiroga, Nicol; Campos‐Soto, Ricardo; Reyes-Olivares, Claudio; González‐Acuña, Daniel

doi:10.3201/eid2806.220079

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Triatomines in zoos and T. cruzi infection in zoo animals have been previously documented 59 , 60 . In the current study, several triatomines from a zoo harbored a variety of mammalian hosts—tiger, colobus monkey, roof rat, humans and dogs—capable of being infected by T. cruzi , as well as non-mammalian hosts—Gulf coast toad, red-footed tortoise, chicken—refractory to T. cruzi infection (although see 61 , 62 ). Two triatomines that had fed on red-footed tortoise and Gulf coast toad were infected with T. cruzi , indicating these triatomines likely had meals from reservoirs prior to feeding on these potentially refractory species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Characterization of triatomine bloodmeal sources using direct Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing methods

Balasubramanian

Curtis‐Robles

Chirra

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Knowledge of host associations of blood-feeding vectors may afford insights into managing disease systems and protecting public health. However, the ability of methods to distinguish bloodmeal sources varies widely. We used two methods—Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing—to target a 228 bp region of the vertebrate Cytochrome b gene and determine hosts fed upon by triatomines (n = 115) collected primarily in Texas, USA. Direct Sanger sequencing of PCR amplicons was successful for 36 samples (31%). Sanger sequencing revealed 15 distinct host species, which included humans, domestic animals (Canis lupus familiaris, Ovis aries, Gallus gallus, Bos taurus, Felis catus, and Capra hircus), wildlife (Rattus rattus, Incilius nebulifer, Sciurus carolinensis, Sciurus niger, and Odocoileus virginianus), and captive animals (Panthera tigris, Colobus spp., and Chelonoidis carbonaria). Samples sequenced by the Sanger method were also subjected to Illumina MiSeq amplicon deep sequencing. The amplicon deep sequencing results (average of 302,080 usable reads per sample) replicated the host community revealed using Sanger sequencing, and detected additional hosts in five triatomines (13.9%), including two additional blood sources (Procyon lotor and Bassariscus astutus). Up to four bloodmeal sources were detected in a single triatomine (I. nebulifer, Homo sapiens, C. lupus familiaris, and S. carolinensis). Enhanced understanding of vector-host-parasite networks may allow for integrated vector management programs focusing on highly-utilized and highly-infected host species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Characterization of triatomine bloodmeal sources using direct Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing methods

Balasubramanian

Curtis‐Robles

Chirra

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…Other lizard taxa potentially interacting with wild T. costalimai include species of, among others, Ameiva , Cnemidophorus , Mabuya , Tupinambis , Anolis , Phyllopezus , Gymnodactilus , Hemidactylus , Hoplocercus , Cloeodactylus , and Vanzosaura ( Werneck, 2006 ; Werneck & Colli, 2006 ; Camargo & Aguiar, 2007 ; Recoder et al., 2011 ). We note that recent studies suggest that some lizards may act as ‘silent hosts’ of T. cruzi ( Botto-Mahan et al., 2022 ).…”

Section: Ecology Of Triatoma Costalimaimentioning

confidence: 80%

Triatoma costalimai, a neglected vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Cerrado savannas of South America: A comprehensive review

Miranda

Gurgel-Gonçalves

Souza³

et al. 2022

Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases

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“…This finding suggests that, although the number and relative abundance of species in the palm crowns stay relatively consistent, community composition and trophic structure in the palm crowns vary across land‐use type and location (Figure 8). Indeed, pasture palms had higher mid‐trophic‐level species diversity in palm crowns, which included invertebrates and some smaller vertebrate predators (e.g., lizards and geckos) that are not considered competent reservoirs for T. cruzi (but see Botto‐Mahan et al, 2022) and potentially predate on triatomine vectors (Botto‐Mahan et al, 2022). Although pasture and peridomestic palms contained network characteristics favorable to R. pallescens abundance (i.e., greater number of invertebrate predators), they still maintained a lower abundance compared with forest palms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food web structure and microenvironment affect Chagas disease vector infection and abundance in a rural landscape

et al. 2023

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Vector-borne pathogen transmission is shaped by multiple abiotic and biotic factors. Understanding the relative importance of these factors on vector abundance and infection is important for developing vector-borne disease control strategies. The crown of the Attalea butyracea palm provides a natural arboreal mesocosm suitable for studying how food web relations and microclimate affect Chagas disease vectors of the genus Rhodnius, which feed on vertebrate blood and interact with many vertebrate and invertebrate species, vegetation, and detritus within the palm crown. We performed a cross-sectional, observational study of A. butyracea crowns using a community ecology network approach to evaluate abiotic and biotic conditions associated with Rhodnius pallescens abundance and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the Chagas disease etiologic agent. We collected 1098 R. pallescens from 105 A. butyracea crowns in rural landscapes of Panama. In a palm subset (N = 49), we recorded microclimate and habitat conditions and counted vertebrate and invertebrate species in order to characterize palm crown food webs. We used food web metrics, namely Generality (average number of prey per predator) and Vulnerability (average number of predators per prey) to evaluate associations between palm community trophic structure, vector predators, vector blood meal species composition, vector abundance, and vector T. cruzi infection. Field data analyzed with generalized linear models showed that vector abundance and infection in a given palm crown were influenced by a combination of geographic location, land-use type, palm crown animal community composition, and microhabitat conditions. Vector abundance was negatively associated with increased overall palm crown community diversity. However, vector abundance was positively associated with the invertebrate predator and mammal community. R. pallescens Vulnerability score, which measures predation pressure on the vector within the palm crown, was positively associated with vector abundance. Vector infection with T. cruzi was positively associated with

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Lizards as Silent Hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi

Cited by 14 publications

References 11 publications

Characterization of triatomine bloodmeal sources using direct Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing methods

Characterization of triatomine bloodmeal sources using direct Sanger sequencing and amplicon deep sequencing methods

Triatoma costalimai, a neglected vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in the Cerrado savannas of South America: A comprehensive review

Food web structure and microenvironment affect Chagas disease vector infection and abundance in a rural landscape

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