Trypanosoma cruzi infections and associated pathology in urban-dwelling Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana)

Zecca, Italo B.; Hodo, Carolyn L.; Slack, Sarah; Auckland, Lisa D.; Hamer, Sarah A.

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.03.004

Cited by 24 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In the US, the southern half of the country is endemic with well-established zoonotic cycles involving multiple species of triatomines [ 3 ] and multiple zoonotic, synantropic and domestic hosts, although the extent of these cycles is only beginning to be understood [ 4 ]. T. cruzi infection in synantropic species such as opossums, rodents, or raccoons can be high [ 5 – 7 ], and these species may serve as a bridge between more sylvatic species and domestic hosts. Among the latter, dogs have been found to be a major host, as they serve as a frequent blood meal source for multiple triatomine species [ 4 , 8 – 10 ] and have a T. cruzi infection rate up to 60% [ 11 – 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shelter cats host infections with multiple Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in southern Louisiana

Dumonteil

Desale

et al. 2021

Vet Res

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Trypanosoma cruzi is a zoonotic parasite endemic in the southern US and the Americas, which may frequently infect dogs, but limited information is available about infections in cats. We surveyed a convenience sample of 284 shelter cats from Southern Louisiana to evaluate T. cruzi infection using serological and PCR tests. Parasites from PCR positive cats were also genotyped by PCR and deep sequencing to assess their genetic diversity. We detected a seropositivity rate for T. cruzi of at least 7.3% (17/234), and 24.6% of cats (70/284) were PCR positive for the parasite. Seropositivity increased with cat age (R2 = 0.91, P = 0.011), corresponding to an incidence of 7.2% ± 1.3 per year, while PCR positivity decreased with age (R2 = 0.93, P = 0.007). Cats were predominantly infected with parasites from TcI and TcVI DTUs, and to a lesser extent from TcIV and TcV DTUs, in agreement with the circulation of these parasite DTUs in local transmission cycles. These results indicate that veterinarians should have a greater awareness of T. cruzi infection in pets and that it would be important to better evaluate the risk for spillover infections in humans.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shelter cats host infections with multiple Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in southern Louisiana

Dumonteil

Desale

et al. 2021

Vet Res

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“…Enzootic cycles of T. cruzi transmission have been documented in the southern USA, where opossums ( Didelphis virginiana ), woodrats ( Neotoma spp. ), coyotes ( Canis latrans ), and other mammals naturally infected with T. cruzi come into contact with endemic triatomine species (6–8) and maintain parasite transmission (1, 9–12). The wildlife species involved in the transmission of T. cruzi often inhabit peridomestic environments and share spaces with domestic dogs outdoors, increasing dogs’ risk of exposure to infected vectors (10, 13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unprecedented incidence of Trypanosoma cruzi infections in a cohort of dogs directly detected through longitudinal tracking at multi-dog kennels, Texas, USA

et al. 2021

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Canine Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is increasingly recognized as a health concern for dogs in the USA, and infected dogs may signal geographic regions of risk for human disease. Dogs living in multi-dog kennel environments where triatomine vectors are endemic may be at high risk for infection. We monitored a cohort of 64 T. cruzi -infected and uninfected dogs from across 10 kennels in Texas, USA, to characterize changes in infection status over time. We used robust diagnostic criteria in which reactivity on multiple independent platforms was required to be considered positive. Among the 30 dogs enrolled as serologically- and/or PCR-positive, all but one dog showed sustained positive T. cruzi diagnostic results over time. Among the 34 dogs enrolled as serologically- and PCR-negative, 10 new T. cruzi infections were recorded over a 12-month period. The resulting incidence rate was 30.7 T. cruzi infections per 100 dogs per year. This study highlights the risk of T . cruzi infection to dogs in kennel environments, despite multiple vector control methods employed by kennel owners. To protect both dog and human health, there is an urgent need to develop more integrated vector control methods as well as prophylactic and curative antiparasitic treatment options for T. cruzi infection in dogs.

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“…For example, opossum anal gland secretions are often expelled when the animal is marking territory, has become frightened, or during normal defecation. 39 Lenzi et al 40 showed in one study that opossums infected with T. cruzi had anal gland secretions that may also contaminate their feces, thus adding to another possible source for T. cruzi to contaminate our environment. Recently, opossums surveyed in south Texas showed 17% were PCR positive in one or more tissue sample, with 80% of these infected opossums having T. cruzi DNA detected in the anal gland secretions.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Recently, opossums surveyed in south Texas showed 17% were PCR positive in one or more tissue sample, with 80% of these infected opossums having T. cruzi DNA detected in the anal gland secretions. 39 These authors concluded that this presents a plausible source of transmission for humans and animals that would be exposed to these infected bodily fluids. 39,40 Experimental infections have shown that opossums are capable of allowing T. cruzi to colonize in the anal glands after infection.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…39 These authors concluded that this presents a plausible source of transmission for humans and animals that would be exposed to these infected bodily fluids. 39,40 Experimental infections have shown that opossums are capable of allowing T. cruzi to colonize in the anal glands after infection. 41,42 One study conducted in Venezuela found that urbanized opossums that were naturally infected with T. cruzi were able to successfully transmit infection through exposure of anal gland secretions in known uninfected juvenile opossums and laboratory mice.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Autochthonous Chagas Disease in the United States: How Are People Getting Infected?

Beatty

Klotz

2020

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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In the United States, Chagas disease is diagnosed in less than 1% of the estimated > 300,000 people who have the disease. However, the actual prevalence remains unknown, and these estimates may be wide of the mark (too high or too low). The greater part of those living with the disease acquired the infection in an endemic region of Latin America, but autochthonous transmission in the United States is increasingly being described. These cases are considered rare, and the transmission routes are largely unknown. Although triatomines or "kissing bugs" harbor Trypanosoma cruzi in North America, most autochthonous cases are presumed rather than confirmed exposures to naturally infected kissing bugs. Public knowledge of Chagas is growing, and efforts are underway to provide greater awareness, but what are the risk factors for human transmission of Chagas disease in the United States?

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Trypanosoma cruzi infections and associated pathology in urban-dwelling Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana)

Cited by 24 publications

References 48 publications

Shelter cats host infections with multiple Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in southern Louisiana

Shelter cats host infections with multiple Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in southern Louisiana

Unprecedented incidence of Trypanosoma cruzi infections in a cohort of dogs directly detected through longitudinal tracking at multi-dog kennels, Texas, USA

Autochthonous Chagas Disease in the United States: How Are People Getting Infected?

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