Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in lizards: Using non-lethal sampling techniques in a sylvatic species with zoonotic reservoir potential in Chile.

Several reptile species have been described as hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and therefore, they have become vertebrates of epidemiological interest. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in animal welfare, especially in populations with small numbers where lethal sampling could have catastrophic consequences, and non-lethal methodologies have been developed for detecting zoonotic parasites. In this study, we compared three non-lethal sampling methodologies for detecting T.

What is behind the success of terrestrial bromeliads as microhabitat for the sylvatic triatomine Mepraia spinolai?

Puya alpestris, P. berteroniana and P. chilensis (Bromeliaceae) are terrestrial plants present in north-central Chile, considered important part of the shrub flora due to their abundance and close interaction with animals.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection reduces the population fitness of Mepraia spinolai, a Chagas disease vector.

The hematophagous insect Mepraia spinolai (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) is naturally infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease in humans. In this study, we compared the demographic parameters of M. spinolai with and without T.

Diet of the sylvatic triatomine Mepraia spinolai: Association with Trypanosoma cruzi infection near human settlements.

The proximity between infectious disease vector populations and human settlements, and the infection prevalence of vector populations can determine the rate of encounters between vectors and humans and hence infection risk. The diet of sylvatic triatomine vectors (kissing bugs) provides evidence about the host species involved in the maintenance of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Here, we characterized the diet of the Chilean endemic triatomine Mepraia spinolai using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), and evaluated the relation between T.

Humans as blood-feeding sources in sylvatic triatomines of Chile unveiled by next-generation sequencing.

Background: Triatomines are blood-sucking insects capable of transmitting Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans. Vectorial transmission entails an infected triatomine feeding on a vertebrate host, release of triatomine infective dejections, and host infection by the entry of parasites through mucous membranes, skin abrasions, or the biting site; therefore, transmission to humans is related to the triatomine-human contact. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated whether humans were detected in the diet of three sylvatic triatomine species (Mepraia parapatrica, Mepraia spinolai, and Triatoma infestans) present in the semiarid-Mediterranean ecosystem of Chile.

Natural Infection and Climatic Season Influence the Developmental Capacity in Field-Caught Nymphs.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the climatic season and infection by , etiological agent of Chagas disease, on the molting capacity of the triatomine vector endemic to Chile. We used wild-caught first-to-fourth instar nymphs during cooling (fall and winter) and warming (spring) periods. After capturing, nymphs were fed at the laboratory, and maintained under optimal rearing conditions.

Opportunistic or selective? Stage-dependent feeding behavior in a wild vector of Chagas disease.

The composition and contribution of different host species in the dynamics of vector-borne zoonotic parasites are particularly relevant for public health. Hence, the study of host selection by vectors is fundamental. Developmental stage and infection status are factors that may modulate vector feeding behavior.

Discrete Typing Units of Identified by Real-Time PCR in Peripheral Blood and Dejections of Used in Xenodiagnosis Descriptive Study.

Chagas disease (ChD) is a vector zoonosis native to the American continent caused by the protozoan parasite ; the biological vectors are multiple species of hematophagous insects of the family Triatominae. A relevant aspect in the host-parasite relationship is the identification of the various genotypes of called discrete typing units (DTU) that circulate in mammals and vectors. In Chile, it has been described that the DTUs TcI, TcII, TcV, and TcVI circulate in infected humans, vectors, and wild animals.

Lizards as Silent Hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi.

We assessed 4 lizard species in Chile for Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and 1 species for its ability to transmit the protozoan to uninfected kissing bugs. All lizard species were infected, and the tested species was capable of transmitting the protozoan, highlighting their role as T. cruzi reservoirs.

Blood-Meal Sources and Infection in Coastal and Insular Triatomine Bugs from the Atacama Desert of Chile.

is one of the lesser known and less abundant sylvatic triatomine species naturally infected by the protozoan , the etiological agent of Chagas disease. lives in sympatry with -infected rodents, but only birds, reptiles, and marine mammals have been reported as blood-meal sources of this vector species by serology. The distribution range of this kissing bug overlaps with fishers' settlements and tourist areas, and therefore the study of the blood-meal sources of this triatomine species is relevant.

Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Desmodus rotundus (common vampire bat) and Histiotus montanus (small big-eared brown bat) from Chile.

The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted by infected feces or consumption of blood-sucking triatomine insects to several mammalian orders including Chiroptera. In Chile, the distribution of several insectivorous and one hematophagous bat species overlaps with those of triatomine vectors, but the T. cruzi infection status of local chiropterans is unknown.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection follow-up in a sylvatic vector of Chagas disease: Comparing early and late stage nymphs.

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by the triatomine Mepraia spinolai in the southwest of South America. Here, we examined the T. cruzi-infection dynamics of field-caught M.

Genetic diversity in a restricted-dispersal kissing bug: The centre-periphery hypothesis halfway.

The centre-periphery hypothesis (CPH) postulates that populations close to the centre of a species distribution will exhibit higher genetic diversity and lower genetic differentiation than populations located at the edge of the distribution. The centre of a species' distribution might represent an optimum for the environmental factors influencing the species absolute fitness and, therefore, genetic diversity. In species with wide distribution, the geographical variation of biotic and abiotic variables is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of the CPH.

Trypanosomatid Infections among Vertebrates of Chile: A Systematic Review.

We present a review on the natural infection by trypanosomatids of nonhuman vertebrates in Chile, aiming to synthesize and update the knowledge on the diversity of trypanosomatids infecting native and alien vertebrate species. To this end, we conducted a systematic review of literature records published from 1900 to April 2020 on four databases, focusing on the 21 genera of trypanosomatids and Chile. The methods and findings of our review have been based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (prisma) checklist.

Trypanosoma cruzi could affect wild triatomine approaching behaviour to humans by altering vector nutritional status: A field test.

Hematophagous insects exhibit complex behaviour when searching for blood-meals, responding to several host stimuli. The hematophagous insect Mepraia spinolai is a wild vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease in humans, in the semiarid-Mediterranean ecosystem of Chile. In this study, we evaluated the association between the approaching behaviour to a human host, with T.

Organs infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and DTU identification in the naturally infected rodent Octodon degus.

Chagas disease is a public health problem in America. Its parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, presents different discrete typing units (DTUs), colonizes organs of mammalian hosts in chronic infections, and presents tropism for particular organs in experimental infections. We evaluated T.

Prevalence, infected density or individual probability of infection? Assessing vector infection risk in the wild transmission of Chagas disease.

Vector-borne infectious disease dynamics result mainly from the intertwined effect of the diversity, abundance, and behaviour of hosts and vectors. Most studies, however, have analysed the relationship between host-species diversity and infection risk, focusing on vector population instead of individuals, probably dismissing the level at which the transmission process occurs. In this paper, we examine the importance of the host community in accounting for infection risk, at both population and individual levels, using the wild transmission of the protozoan that causes Chagas disease as a vector-borne disease model.

Lizards and rabbits may increase Chagas infection risk in the Mediterranean-type ecosystem of South America.

Studies of host-parasite relationships largely benefit from adopting a multifactorial approach, including the complexity of multi-host systems and habitat features in their analyses. Some host species concentrate most infection and contribute disproportionately to parasite and vector population maintenance, and habitat feature variation creates important heterogeneity in host composition, influencing infection risk and the fate of disease dynamics. Here, we examine how the availability of specific groups of hosts and habitat features relate to vector abundance and infection risk in 18 vector populations along the Mediterranean-type ecosystem of South America, where the kissing bug Mepraia spinolai is the main wild vector of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease.

Potential impact of climate change on the geographical distribution of two wild vectors of Chagas disease in Chile: Mepraia spinolai and Mepraia gajardoi.

Background: Mepraia gajardoi and Mepraia spinolai are endemic triatomine vector species of Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas disease. These vectors inhabit arid, semiarid and Mediterranean areas of Chile. Mepraia gajardoi occurs from 18° to 25°S, and M.

Helminthic infection in three native rodent species from a semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem.

Helminth parasites are still not a well-known component of animal biodiversity. In this study, we describe and compare the endoparasite assemblages of three native rodent species from a semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem. A total of eight species of gastrointestinal helminth parasites were detected.

Spatio-temporal characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and discrete typing units infecting hosts and vectors from non-domestic foci of Chile.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that is transmitted by triatomine vectors to mammals. It is classified in six discrete typing units (DTUs). In Chile, domestic vectorial transmission has been interrupted; however, the parasite is maintained in non-domestic foci.

Comparing vector competence of Mepraia gajardoi and Triatoma infestans by genotyping Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units present in naturally infected Octodon degus.

Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and transmitted by triatomine insects to several mammal species. In Chile, the wild triatomine species are the endemic Mepraia species, and the only domestic vector of Chagas disease is Triatoma infestans. The aim of this study was to determine the competence of M.

Within-host temporal fluctuations of Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units: the case of the wild reservoir rodent Octodon degus.

Background: Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is considered a major public health problem in America. After an acute phase the disease changes to a chronic phase with very low parasitemia. The parasite presents high genetic variability with seven discrete typing units (DTUs): TcI-TcVI and Tc bat.

Sex-dependent infection causes nonadditive effects on kissing bug fecundity.

The influence of parasites on host reproduction has been widely studied in natural and experimental conditions. Most studies, however, have evaluated the parasite impact on female hosts only, neglecting the contribution of males for host reproduction. This omission is unfortunate as sex-dependent infection may have important implications for host-parasite associations.

Natural Infection of Leptospira Species in the Native Rodents Degu ( Octodon degus ) and Darwin's Pericote ( Phyllotis darwini ) in Mediterranean Ecosystem of Chile.

We report natural infections by pathogenic Leptospira of two rodent species endemic to Chile: the degu ( Octodon degus ) and Darwin's pericote ( Phyllotis darwini ). We detected Leptospira DNA in kidney and urine samples taken in different years and sites, reaching 33% infection. The effects of infection in these species requires further evaluation.