Chagas disease ecoepidemiology and environmental changes in northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract

BACKGROUND Triatoma sordida and Triatoma pseudomaculata are frequently captured triatomine species in the Brazilian savannah and caatinga biomes, respectively, and in Brazilian domiciles.OBJECTIVESThis study identified eco-epidemiological changes in Chagas disease in northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and considered the influence of environmental shifts and both natural and anthropogenic effects.METHODSDomicile infestation and Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates were obtained from triatomines and sylvatic reservoirs during the following two time periods: the 1980s and 2007/2008. Entomological and climatic data with land cover classification derived from satellite imagery were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS), which was applied for atmospheric correction, segmentation, image classification, and mapping and to analyse data obtained in the field. Climatic data were analysed and compared to land cover classifications.RESULTSA comparison of current data with data obtained in the 1980's showed that T. sordida colonised domiciliary areas in both periods, and that T. pseudomaculata did not colonise these areas. There was a tendency toward a reduction in T. cruzi infection rates in sylvatic reservoirs, and of triatomines captured in both households and in the sylvatic environment. T. sordida populations have reduced in the sylvatic environment, while T. pseudomaculata showed an expanding trend in the region compared to counts observed in the 1980's in the sylvatic environment. This may be related to high deforestation rates as well as gradual increases in land surface temperature (LST) and temperatures along the years.MAIN CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest a geographical expansion of species into new biomes as a result of anthropogenic and climatic changes that directly interfere with the reproductive and infection processes of vectors.

Impacts of social inequalities on the survival of heart transplant recipients in a developing country

“…Chagas Cardiomyopathy is an important cause of HF in Latin America 20 . This corroborates the results of this study, which was performed in a Brazilian state that is endemic for Chagas Disease and has areas of low socioeconomic status and low Human Development Index 21 …”

“…20 This corroborates the results of this study, which was performed in a Brazilian state that is endemic for Chagas Disease and has areas of low socioeconomic status and low Human Development Index. 21 Even though the median age of HT recipients in this study represents a middle-aged adult, 56.5% of the sample were already retired and only 24.5% were working. A lower level of education, despite being present in most patients, was not statistically related to survival.…”

Occurrence and spatial distribution of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the urban area of the municipality of Montes Claros, Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Over the years, T. pseudomaculata , typical of semi‐arid climate and vegetation, has established itself in several Brazilian regions, showing itself to be a species in transition (Assis et al., 2009; Dias et al, 2000; Vianna et al., 2017; Oliveira‐Filho et al., 2000). Previous research has already recorded the occurrence of this species in the north of Minas Gerais, and in recent years, an increase in its population has been verified due to the increase in temperature and aridification of this region (Dias et al., 2005; Vianna et al., 2017).…”

Home invasion of triatomines increases the risk of Chagas disease transmission in the Brazilian Amazon

“…In the Municipality of Caxias, State of Rio de Janeiro, houses were investigated, and the presence of triatomines of the genus Triatoma was reported. In rural Jurema, Minas Gerais, it was observed that the species Triatoma sordida continues to colonize the houses [19]. In the municipalities of Araçatuba and Birigui, in the State of São Paulo, specifically in its urban area, the frequent presence of Rhodnius neglectus in apartment buildings has been reported, including signs of colonization [20].…”