Factors Associated With Peridomestic<i>Triatoma sanguisuga</i>(Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Presence in Southeastern Louisiana

Moudy, Robin M.; Michaels, Sarah; Jameson, Samuel; Londoño-Rentería, Berlin; Lopez, Velma K.; Caillouët, Kevin A.; Hallmark, Camden J.; Davis, Justin K.; Foppa, Ivo; Dorn, Patricia L.; Wesson, Dawn M.

doi:10.1603/me13234

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…These findings suggest that the typically sylvatic T. gerstaeckeri may have passed the parasite from a sylvatic, enzootic cycle to a peridomestic cycle in dogs, which in this case may play an important role in supporting peridomestic transmission of T. cruzi [ 9 ] and increased risk of exposure for humans. In contrast to the findings in southern Texas, a recent study of factors associated with peridomestic T. sanguisuga demonstrated the lack of association between dog ownership and the presence of T. sanguisuga in and around houses [ 10 ]. Although the full epidemiologic role of dogs has not been well established in the US, they could play an important role in peridomestic and domestic transmission of T. cruzi as has been reported in Latin American countries [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The collection area for both rodent and T. sanguisuga samples was the interior and immediate surrounding ecotopes of the residence of the first autochthonous human case of Chagas disease reported from New Orleans in 2006 [ 14 ] located on the West Bank of Orleans Parish, Louisiana [ 10 ]. The residence was situated within a zone where previously, a high prevalence of T. cruzi (60.4%) was observed in T. sanguisuga [ 15 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana

Herrera

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et al. 2015

Parasites & Vectors

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BackgroundChagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that represents a major public health problem in Latin America. Although the United States is defined as non-endemic for Chagas disease due to the rarity of human cases, the presence of T. cruzi has now been amply demonstrated as enzootic in different regions of the south of the country from Georgia to California. In southeastern Louisiana, a high T. cruzi infection rate has been demonstrated in Triatoma sanguisuga, the local vector in this area. However, little is known about the role of small mammals in the wild and peridomestic transmission cycles.MethodsThis study focused on the molecular identification and genotyping of T. cruzi in both small rodents and T. sanguisuga from a rural area of New Orleans, Louisiana. DNA extractions were prepared from rodent heart, liver, spleen and skeletal muscle tissues and from cultures established from vector feces. T. cruzi infection was determined by standard PCR using primers specific for the minicircle variable region of the kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA) and the highly repetitive genomic satellite DNA (satDNA). Genotyping of discrete typing units (DTUs) was performed by amplification of mini-exon and 18S and 24Sα rRNA genes and subsequent sequence analysis.ResultsThe DTUs TcI, TcIV and, for the first time, TcII, were identified in tissues of mice and rats naturally infected with T. cruzi captured in an area of New Orleans, close to the house where the first human case of Chagas disease was reported in Louisiana. The T. cruzi infection rate in 59 captured rodents was 76%. The frequencies of the detected DTUs in such mammals were TcI 82%, TcII 22% and TcIV 9%; 13% of all infections contained more than one DTU.ConclusionsOur results indicate a probable presence of a considerably greater diversity in T. cruzi DTUs circulating in the southeastern United States than previously reported. Understanding T. cruzi transmission dynamics in sylvatic and peridomestic cycles in mammals and insect vectors will be crucial to estimating the risk of local, vector-borne transmission of T. cruzi to humans in the United States.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana

Herrera

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Nation

et al. 2015

Parasites & Vectors

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“…Of these, 17% were collected inside human dwellings; the highest proportions were for T. rubida and T. protracta. Houses with refuges such as woodpiles, rock piles and brush, and those with structural gaps through which vectors can pass, are more vulnerable to vector invasion (52,62,95). Rarely, the presence of T. protracta or T. recurva nymphs has been reported inside houses, suggesting possible colonization (62).…”

Section: Transmission Potential In the United Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chagas Disease in the United States: a Public Health Approach

et al. 2019

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SUMMARY Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, usually transmitted by triatomine vectors. An estimated 20 to 30% of infected individuals develop potentially lethal cardiac or gastrointestinal disease. Sylvatic transmission cycles exist in the southern United States, involving 11 triatomine vector species and infected mammals such as rodents, opossums, and dogs. Nevertheless, imported chronic T. cruzi infections in migrants from Latin America vastly outnumber locally acquired human cases. Benznidazole is now FDA approved, and clinical and public health efforts are under way by researchers and health departments in a number of states. Making progress will require efforts to improve awareness among providers and patients, data on diagnostic test performance and expanded availability of confirmatory testing, and evidence-based strategies to improve access to appropriate management of Chagas disease in the United States.

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“…The first recruitment of the public in the U.S. to help collect kissing bugs was in 1941, when Dr. Sherwin F. Wood of Los Angeles City College encouraged Arizona miners to collect insects from their sleeping quarters with the recruitment slogan ‘Nab that bug at one cent each for Dr. Wood at City College to keep.’ [ 19 ]; this was followed by other similar efforts in the 1940s [ 20 , 21 ]. Subsequently, community participation in kissing bug surveillance in Tucson, Arizona [ 22 , 23 ] and New Orleans, Louisiana [ 24 ] has provided unprecedented information on vector phenology and infection in these regions. For public health and research purposes, the recruitment of submissions of kissing bugs from citizens who incidentally encounter them is an attractive option for collection given that kissing bugs are nocturnal, elusive, and difficult to collect using standardized entomological traps [ 11 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Public Health Education and Disease Ecology Research: Using Citizen Science to Assess Chagas Disease Entomological Risk in Texas

et al. 2015

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BackgroundChagas disease is a zoonotic parasitic disease well-documented throughout the Americas and transmitted primarily by triatomine ‘kissing bug’ vectors. In acknowledgment of the successful history of vector control programs based on community participation across Latin America, we used a citizen science approach to gain novel insight into the geographic distribution, seasonal activity, and Trypanosoma cruzi infection prevalence of kissing bugs in Texas while empowering the public with information about Chagas disease.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe accepted submissions of kissing bugs encountered by the public in Texas and other states from 2013–2014 while providing educational literature about Chagas disease. In the laboratory, kissing bugs were identified to species, dissected, and tested for T. cruzi infection. A total of 1,980 triatomines were submitted to the program comprised of at least seven species, of which T. gerstaeckeri and T. sanguisuga were the most abundant (85.7% of submissions). Triatomines were most commonly collected from dog kennels and outdoor patios; Overall, 10.5% of triatomines were collected from inside the home. Triatomines were submitted from across Texas, including many counties which were not previously known to harbor kissing bugs. Kissing bugs were captured primarily throughout April-October, and peak activity occurred in June-July. Emails to our dedicated account regarding kissing bugs were more frequent in the summer months (June-August) than the rest of the year. We detected T. cruzi in 63.3% of tested bugs.Conclusions/SignificanceCitizen science is an efficient approach for generating data on the distribution, phenology, and infection prevalence of kissing bugs—vectors of the Chagas disease parasite—while educating the public and medical community.

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Factors Associated With PeridomesticTriatoma sanguisuga(Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Presence in Southeastern Louisiana

Cited by 8 publications

References 32 publications

Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana

Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana

Chagas Disease in the United States: a Public Health Approach

Combining Public Health Education and Disease Ecology Research: Using Citizen Science to Assess Chagas Disease Entomological Risk in Texas

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