Disentangling Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle dynamics through the identification of blood meal sources of natural populations of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatán, Mexico

Abstract Background In the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Little effort has been made to identify blood meal sources of T. dimidiata in natural conditions in this region, although this provides key information to disentangle T. cruzi transmission cycles and dynamics and guide the development of more effective control strategies. We identified the blood meals of a large sample of T. dimidiata bugs collected in different ecotopes simultaneously with the assessment of bug infection with T. cruzi, to disentangle the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in the region. Methods A sample of 248 T. dimidiata bugs collected in three rural villages and in the sylvatic habitat surrounding these villages was used. DNA from each bug midgut was extracted and bug infection with T. cruzi was assessed by PCR. For blood meal identification, we used a molecular assay based on cloning and sequencing following PCR amplification with vertebrate universal primers, and allowing the detection of multiple blood meals in a single bug. Results Overall, 28.7% of the bugs were infected with T. cruzi, with no statistical difference between bugs from the villages or from sylvatic ecotopes. Sixteen vertebrate species including domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic animals, were identified as blood meal sources for T. dimidiata. Human, dog and cow were the three main species identified, in bugs collected in the villages as well as in sylvatic ecotopes. Importantly, dog was highlighted as the main blood meal source after human. Dog was also the most frequently identified animal together with human within single bugs, and tended to be associated with the infection of the bugs. Conclusions Dog, human and cow were identified as the main mammals involved in the connection of sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Dog appeared as the most important animal in the transmission pathway of T. cruzi to humans, but other domestic and synanthropic animals, which most were previously reported as important hosts of T. cruzi in the region, were evidenced and should be taken into account as part of integrated control strategies aimed at disrupting parasite transmission.

Tags
Data and Resources
To access the resources you must log in

This item has no data

Identity

Description: The Identity category includes attributes that support the identification of the resource.

Field Value
PID https://www.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4764383.v1
PID https://www.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4764383
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4764383.v1
URL http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4764383
Access Modality

Description: The Access Modality category includes attributes that report the modality of exploitation of the resource.

Field Value
Access Right not available
Attribution

Description: Authorships and contributors

Field Value
Author Moo-Millan, Joel
Author Arnal, Audrey
Author Pérez-Carrillo, Silvia
Author Hernandez-Andrade, Anette
Author María-Jesús Ramírez-Sierra
Author Rosado-Vallado, Miguel
Author Dumonteil, Eric
Author Waleckx, Etienne
Publishing

Description: Attributes about the publishing venue (e.g. journal) and deposit location (e.g. repository)

Field Value
Collected From Datacite
Hosted By figshare
Publication Date 2019-01-01
Publisher figshare
Additional Info
Field Value
Language UNKNOWN
Resource Type Collection
keyword FOS: Health sciences
keyword FOS: Physical sciences
keyword FOS: Sociology
keyword FOS: Biological sciences
keyword FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
system:type other
Management Info
Field Value
Source https://science-innovation-policy.openaire.eu/search/other?orpId=dedup_wf_001::e4afd9e3092f26f60f7908d8db4a5f3a
Author jsonws_user
Last Updated 19 December 2020, 04:04 (CET)
Created 19 December 2020, 04:04 (CET)