A New Method for Forensic DNA Analysis of the Blood Meal in Chagas Disease Vectors Demonstrated Using Triatoma infestans from Chuquisaca, Bolivia

Pizarro, J.C.; Stevens, Lori

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003585

Cited by 63 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…These observations suggest that the PCR based on SINE targets for mouse DNA has limited value for blood meal analyses. This could be supported by a previous field study utilizing the same methodology where mouse DNA was not detected in the MC of triatomines 17 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…In a sylvatic environment, wild animals act as main blood meal sources; risk of T. cruzi transmission to people is limited due to fewer encounters between infected vectors and humans. In the case of T. infestans, the peridomestic and domestic blood meal sources have included domestic dogs, chickens, goats, pigs, cows, domesticated guinea pigs, and humans 6,7,15,16,17,21 . In domestic and peridomestic sites, vectors are more likely to feed on humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…included humans, domestic dogs, rabbits, sheep, opossums, pigs, multiple rodent and bat species, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, lizards, and other insects 2,3,11,13,16,17,23 . This list includes important T. cruzi reservoirs for the peridomestic cycle of Chagas disease, such as domestic dogs, guinea pigs, and humans 7,10,16,17 . Chickens, along with all other avian species, are refractory to infection with T. cruzi.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, these techniques are not always ideal. Molecular techniques, including multiplex, heteroduplex, and traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, that amplify 84 high copy-number gene targets, such as mitochondrial genes or repeat elements, are more specific, may have better detection limits, and can be more affordable and efficient 2,13,16,17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

Pinto

Roellig

Gilman

et al. 2012

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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SUMMARYWe used genus/species specific PCRs to determine the temporal persistence of host DNA in Triatoma infestans experimentally fed on blood from six common vertebrate species: humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, chickens, mice, and pigs. Twenty third or fourth instar nymphs per animal group were allowed to feed to engorgement, followed by fasting-maintenance in the insectary. At 7, 14, 21, or 28 days post-feeding, the midgut contents from five triatomines per group were tested with the respective PCR assay. DNA from all vertebrate species was detected in at least four of five study nymphs at seven and 14 days post-feeding. DNA of humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, pigs, and chickens were more successfully detected (80-100%) through day 21, and less successfully (20-100%) at day 28. Findings demonstrate that species-specific PCRs can consistently identify feeding sources of T. infestans within two weeks, a biologically relevant time interval.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

Pinto

Roellig

Gilman

et al. 2012

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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“…The precipitin test has been widely used for the identification of triatomine blood-meals since the 1960s (Rodriguez 1966) and its powerful sensitivity has been reported by several researchers (Wisnivesky-Colli et al 1982, Lorosa et al 1999, 2003. In addition, the precipitin test has the power to detect multiple meals, unlike more recent techniques based on DNA polymerase chain reaction (Hamer et al 2009, Chaves et al 2010, which have been used in a few instances to study kissing-bug blood-feeding patterns (Mota et al 2007, Pizarro & Stevens 2008. In our analysis, several analytical techniques were used to provide qualitatively different insights regarding the blood-feeding niche breadth of kissing-bugs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological patterns of blood-feeding by kissing-bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Rabinovich

Kitron

Obed

et al. 2011

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

105

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Host use by vectors is important in understanding the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which can affect humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Here, a synthesis of host exploitation patterns by kissing-bugs, vectors of Chagas disease, is presented. For this synthesis, an extensive literature review restricted to feeding sources analysed by precipitin tests was conducted. Modern tools from community ecology and multivariate statistics were used to determine patterns of segregation in host use. Rather than innate preferences for host species, host use by kissing-bugs is influenced by the habitats they colonise. One of the major limitations of studies on kissing-bug foraging has been the exclusive focus on the dominant vector species. We propose that expanding foraging studies to consider the community of vectors will substantially increase the understanding of Chagas disease transmission ecology. Our results indicate that host accessibility is a major factor that shapes the blood-foraging patterns of kissing-bugs. Therefore, from an applied perspective, measures that are directed at disrupting the contact between humans and kissing-bugs, such as housing improvement, are among the most desirable strategies for Chagas disease control.Key words: foraging -null models -diet analysis -multivariate statistics -Chagas disease -niche breadth Blood-feeding patterns of triatomines • Jorge Eduardo Rabinovich et al. 480 Several aspects of feeding-related behaviour in triatomines have also been well studied. Such aspects include feeding preferences (Quintal & Polanco 1977), avoidance of excessive warming during feeding (Lazzari et al. 2009), importance of nutritional status in flight initiation and dispersal (Lehane & Schofield 1982, Lehane et al. 1992, Noireau & Dujardin 2001, Emmanuelle-Machado et al. 2002, Ceballos et al. 2005, avoidance of predators during feeding (Bodin et al. 2009a, b), frequency and size of the blood intake (Maddrell 1963, Wood 1976, Montenegro & Pasina 1984, Maifrino et al. 1986, Pietrokovsky et al. 1996, Pereira et al. 1998, control of meal size (Bennet-Clark 1963b) and the relationship between feeding and defecation patterns as well as other aspects of feeding with epidemiological importance (Wood 1951, Dias 1956, Zeledón et al. 1970, 1977, Da Rocha e Silva et al. 1979, Crocco & Catalá 1996, Kollien & Schaub 1998, Zabala & D' Antonio 1988, Braga & Lima 1999, Aldana et al. 2001, Emmanuelle-Machado et al. 2002, Nattero et al. 2002, Almeida et al. 2003, Arévalo et al. 2007, Rodriguez et al. 2008, Klotz et al. 2009).Studies have been conducted on the relationship between the impacts of the triatomine feeding process and demographic parameters (Davies 1990, Malo et al. 1993, Emmanuelle-Machado et al. 2002, mortality and fecundity (Goodchild 1955, Hays 1965, Regis 1977, Patterson 1979, Catalá de Montenegro 1989, Braga et al. 1998, Braga & Lima 2001, Davey 2007, development time (Martinez-Ibarra et al. 2003, Martinez-Ibarra & Novelo-López 2004, resistance to starvation (Gajardo Tobar 1952,...

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Insects as vectors of DNA in a forensic context

Durdle

2019

WIREs Forensic Science

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Insects have historically been used in criminal investigations to provide information in relation to postmortem intervals (PMIs) but the field of forensic entomology is expanding. It is now recognized that insects can act as vectors of human and mammalian DNA through the consumption of biological material, with extraneous DNA able to be extracted and genotyped from all stages of the life cycle, and insect feces and regurgitant (artifacts). To date, DNA recovered from insects have been used to inform investigations into neglect and homicide, link body parts, and to identify victims of crime. It may also potentially be used to identify assailants, confirm the food source of insects to determine their relevance in PMI calculations, determine if a crime has occurred, identify scenes of crimes, and link people to locations and other individuals. However, insects which have consumed biological material may also transfer DNA by traveling to new areas, or depositing it via their artifacts, either within crime scenes or laboratories, or at locations distant to the food source. This could contaminate forensic evidence, confound investigations, and/or falsely incriminate or exclude an individual. Therefore, it is important that there is increased awareness into both the utility of insects as vectors of forensically relevant DNA, and the potential for contamination. This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Examination Forensic Biology > Interpretation of Biological Evidence Forensic Biology > Body Fluid Identification

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A New Method for Forensic DNA Analysis of the Blood Meal in Chagas Disease Vectors Demonstrated Using Triatoma infestans from Chuquisaca, Bolivia

Cited by 63 publications

References 46 publications

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

Ecological patterns of blood-feeding by kissing-bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Insects as vectors of DNA in a forensic context

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