Surveillance and genotype characterization of zoonotic trypanosomatidae in Didelphis marsupialis in two endemic sites of rural Panama

Abstract

Didelphis marsupialis has been reported as a competent reservoir for trypanosomatid parasites infections. The aim of this study was to measure Trypanosoma cruzi, T. rangeli, and Leishmania spp. infection rates and to characterize discrete typing units (DTUs) of T. cruzi in D. marsupialis from two Chagas disease endemic sites in Panama. Blood from 57 wild-caught D. marsupialis were examined from two rural communities, Las Pavas (N = 18) and Trinidad de las Minas (N = 39). Twenty-two (38.60%) opossums were positive for flagellates by general hemoculture. T. cruzi infection was confirmed by positive hemoculture and/or kDNA based PCR performed in 31/57 (54.39%) blood samples from opossums. T. rangeli infection was confirmed by hemoculture and/or TrF/R2-Primer PCR assay applied on 12/57 (21.05%) blood samples. Nine (15.79%) D. marsupialis harbored T. cruzi/T. rangeli coinfections. All opossums tested negative for Leishmania spp. by PCR assays based on kDNA and HSP70 gene amplification. There was a significant association between T. cruzi infection and site (Fisher exact test, p = 0.02), with a higher proportion of T. cruzi infected opossums in Las Pavas (77.78%, n = 14/18) compared to Trinidad de las Minas (43.59%, n = 17/39). A significant association was found between habitat type and T. cruzi infection in opossums across both communities, (X 2 = 6.91, p = 0.01, df = 1), with a higher proportion of T. cruzi infection in opossums captured in forest remnants (76%, 19/25) compared to peridomestic areas (37.5%, 12/32). T. rangeli detection, but not T. cruzi detection, may be improved by culture followed by PCR. TcI was the only DTU detected in 22 T. cruzi samples using conventional and real-time PCR. Eight T. rangeli positive samples were characterized as KP1(-)/lineage C. Trypanosome infection data from this common synanthropic mammal provides important information for improved surveillance and management of Chagas disease in endemic regions of Panama.

Geographic Distribution of the Genus Panstrongylus Berg, 1879 in the Neotropic with Emphasis on Trypanosoma cruzi Vectors

“…Modelling showed that Panstrongylus species richness overlapped with high Dasypus/Didelphis (potential blood source for this vector) areas, all coinciding with CD cases (latest 2014). This scenario of overlap would be a potential risk factor for an increase in the incidence of this anthroponotic disease ( Figure 3 C,D) [ 11 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]…”

“…Modelling showed that Panstrongylus species richness overlapped with high Dasypus/Didelphis (potential blood source for this vector) areas, all coinciding with CD cases (latest 2014). This scenario of overlap would be a potential risk factor for an increase in the incidence of this anthroponotic disease (Figure 3C,D) [11,[72][73][74] Dasypus novemcinctus would be a versatile reservoir species in terms of the bioclimatic and geomorphological conditions for its presence. It has been reported to be infected with several T. cruzi genotypes [11,21,[68][69][70].…”

“…Modelling showed that Panstrongylus species richness overlapped with high Dasypus/Didelphis (potential blood source for this vector) areas, all coinciding with CD cases (latest 2014). This scenario of overlap would be a potential risk factor for an increase in the incidence of this anthroponotic disease (Figure 3C,D) [11,[72][73][74] The evolutionary history of Xenarthra in the Neotropic is linked to the uplift of the Andes, changes in sea level, temperature variations (transition between the Eocene and Oligocene), and the transition from warm/humid/temperate tropical forest environments to more arid/dry environments dominated by savannas. This explains the distribution of Euphractine in the Chaco and Dasypus in the Pacific [60].…”