Tele-entomology and tele-parasitology: A citizen science-based approach for surveillance and control of Chagas disease in Venezuela.

Delgado-Noguera, L. A. et al. (2022) Tele-entomology and tele-parasitology: A citizen science-based approach for surveillance and control of Chagas disease in Venezuela. Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 19, e00273. (doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2022.e00273) (PMID:36118050) (PMCID:PMC9475302)

Abstract

Chagas Disease (CD), a chronic infection caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is a Neglected Tropical Disease endemic to Latin America. With a re-emergence in Venezuela during the past two decades, the spread of CD has proved susceptible to, and inhibitable by a digital, real-time surveillance system effectuated by Citizen Scientists in communities throughout the country. The #TraeTuChipo (#BringYourKissingBug) campaign implemented in January 2020, has served as such a strategy counting on community engagement to define the current ecological distribution of CD vectors despite the absence of a functional national surveillance program. This pilot campaign collected data through online surveys, social media platforms, and/or telephone text messages. A total of 79 triatomine bugs were reported from eighteen Venezuelan states; 67 bugs were identified as Panstrongylus geniculatus, 1 as Rhodnius pictipes, 1 as Triatoma dimidiata, and 10 as Triatoma maculata. We analyzed 8 triatomine feces samples spotted from 4 Panstrongylus geniculatus which were confirmed positive by qPCR for T. cruzi. Further molecular characterization of discrete typing units (DTUs), revealed that all samples contained TcI, the most highly diverse and broadly distributed strain of T. cruzi. Moreover, analysis of the mitochondrial 12S gene revealed Myotis keaysi, Homo sapiens, and Gallus gallus as the main triatomine feeding sources. This study highlights a novel Citizen Science approach which may help improve the surveillance systems for CD in endemic countries.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: Funding was provided by GCRF Vector-borne disease control in Venezuela Network EP/T003782/1.
• Keywords: Citizen science, Venezuela, Telemedicine, Vector, Chagas, GIS
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Llewellyn, Professor Martin and Paniz-Mondolfi, Dr Alberto
• Authors: Delgado-Noguera, L. A., Hernández-Pereira, C. E., Ramírez, J. D., Hernández, C., Velasquez-Ortíz, N., Clavijo, J., Ayala, J. M., Forero-Peña, D., Marquez, M., Suarez, M. J., Traviezo-Valles, L., Escalona, M. A., Perez-Garcia, L., Carpio, I. M., Sordillo, E. M., Grillet, M. E., Llewellyn, M. S., Gabaldón, J. C., and Paniz Mondolfi, A. E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Parasite Epidemiology and Control
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2405-6731
• Published Online: 08 September 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Parasite Epidemiology and Control 19: e00273
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License