Segovia, M., Schwabl, P., Sueto, S., Nakad, C. C., Londoño, J. C., Rodriguez, M., Paiva, M., Llewellyn, M. S. and Carrasco, H. J. (2023) Vector mapping and bloodmeal metabarcoding demonstrate risk of urban Chagas disease transmission in Caracas, Venezuela. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17(3), e0010613. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010613) (PMID:36930686) (PMCID:PMC10057784)
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Abstract
Chagas disease is a significant public health risk in rural and semi-rural areas of Venezuela. Triatomine infection by the aetiological agent Trypanosoma cruzi is also observed in the Metropolitan District of Caracas (MDC), where foodborne T. cruzi outbreaks occasionally occur but active vector-to-human transmission (infection during triatomine bloodmeal) is considered absent. Citizen science-based domiciliary triatomine collection carried out between 2007 and 2013 in the MDC has advanced understanding of urban T. cruzi prevalence patterns and represents an important public awareness-building tool. The present study reports on the extension of this triatomine collection program from 2014 to 2019 and uses mitochondrial metabarcoding to assess feeding behavior in a subset of specimens. The combined, thirteen-year dataset (n = 4872) shows a high rate of T. cruzi infection (75.2%) and a predominance of Panstrongylus geniculatus (99.01%) among triatomines collected in domiciliary areas by MDC inhabitants. Collection also involved nymphal stages of P. geniculatus in 18 of 32 MDC parishes. Other collected species included Triatoma nigromaculata, Triatoma maculata, Rhodnius prolixus, and Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus. Liquid intestinal content indicative of bloodmeal was observed in 53.4% of analyzed specimens. Dissection pools representing 108 such visually blooded P. geniculatus specimens predominantly tested positive for human cytochrome b DNA (22 of 24 pools). Additional bloodmeal sources detected via metabarcoding analysis included key sylvatic T. cruzi reservoirs (opossum and armadillo), rodents, and various other synanthropic and domesticated animals. Results suggest a porous sylvatic-domiciliary transmission interface and ongoing adaptation of P. geniculatus to the urban ecotope. Although P. geniculatus defecation traits greatly limit the possibility of active T. cruzi transmission for any individual biting event, the cumulation of this low risk across a vast metropolitan population warrants further investigation. Efforts to prevent triatomine contact with human food sources also clearly require greater attention to protect Venezuela’s capital from Chagas disease.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This work was supported by the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (FONACIT-Venezuela) (grant G-2005000827 to HJC), the Scottish Funding Council (Small Grants Fund SFC/AN/12/2017 to MSL) and grant #204820/Z/16/Z to PS by the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (https://wellcome.ac.uk/what-we-do/our-work/institutional-strategic-support-fund). T |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Llewellyn, Professor Martin and Schwabl, Philipp |
| Authors: | Segovia, M., Schwabl, P., Sueto, S., Nakad, C. C., Londoño, J. C., Rodriguez, M., Paiva, M., Llewellyn, M. S., and Carrasco, H. J. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Publisher: | Public Library of Science |
| ISSN: | 1935-2727 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1935-2735 |
| Published Online: | 17 March 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 Segovia et al. |
| First Published: | First published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 17(3): e0010613 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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