Heterogeneity of Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates in vectors and animal reservoirs in Colombia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background The heterogeneity of Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates among triatomines insects and animal reservoirs has been studied in independent studies, but little information has been systematised to allow pooled and comparative estimates. Unravelling the main patterns of this heterogeneity could contribute to a further understanding of T. cruzi transmission in Colombia. Methods A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, LILACS, Embase, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar and secondary sources with no filters of language or time and until April 2018. Based on selection criteria, all relevant studies reporting T. cruzi infection rates in reservoirs or triatomines were chosen. For pooled analyses, a random effects model for binomial distribution was used. Heterogeneity among studies is reported as I 2 . Subgroup analyses included: taxonomic classification, ecotope and diagnostic methods. Publication bias and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Overall, 39 studies reporting infection rates in Colombia were found (22 for potential reservoirs and 28 for triatomine insects) for a total sample of 22,838 potential animals and 11,307 triatomines evaluated for T. cruzi infection. We have found evidence of 38/71 different animal species as potential T. cruzi reservoirs and 14/18 species as triatomine vectors for T. cruzi . Among animals, the species with the highest pooled prevalence were opossum ( Didelphis marsupialis ) with 48.0% (95% CI: 26–71%; I 2 = 88%, τ 2 = 0.07, P < 0.01) and domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris ) with 22.0% (95% CI: 4–48%; I 2 = 96%, τ 2 = 0.01, P < 0.01). Among triatomines, the highest prevalence was found for Triatoma maculata in the peridomestic ecotope (68.0%, 95% CI: 62–74%; I 2 = 0%, τ 2 = 0, P < 0.0001), followed by Rhodnius prolixus (62.0%, 95% CI: 38–84%; I 2 = 95%, τ 2 = 0.05, P < 0.01) and Rhodnius pallescens (54.0%, 95% CI: 37–71%; I 2 = 86%, τ 2 = 0.035, P < 0.01) in the sylvatic ecotope. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first systematic and quantitative analyses of triatomi...

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in domestic and synanthropic mammals such as potential risk of sylvatic transmission in a rural area from north of Antioquia, Colombia

“…The serological evaluation of T. cruzi infection in mammals reflects the intensity of T. cruzi transmission. Some authors have reported that the T. cruzi infection rate in Colombian dogs is modulated by the dynamics of vector populations, which are considered the main source of infection ( Rodríguez-Monguí et al, 2019 ; Cantillo-Barraza et al, 2015 ; Ramirez et al, 2013b ; Jaimes-Duenez et al, 2017 ). Here we reported a moderate seroprevalence (34%) in dogs from the department of Antioquia, where P. geniculatus is the only reported species ( Guhl et al, 2007 ).…”

“…D. marsupialis is considered the main reservoir in the sylvatic transmission cycle of T. cruzi . Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the role of this species in the peridomestic area, although its synanthropic behavior is well known ( Rodríguez-Monguí et al, 2019 ). The results of this work showed some evidence that suggests the important role of the common opossum in the active transmission of T. cruzi around of household: (i) this species was the most common sylvatic mammals in the peridomestic area (70.9%), (ii) of evaluated dogs, 59.1% had T. cruzi DNA in their blood samples, (iii) positive hemocultures showed transmissibility competence in opossums, and (iv) the infection frequency by IFAT of 61% showed high exposure to T. cruzi transmission.…”

“…In Colombia, Canis lupus familiaris ( domestic dogs) and Didelphis marsupialis (common opossum) are considered the mammals' species with the highest epidemiological importance ( Guhl and Ramírez, 2013 ). Domestic dogs have been described as with the highest pooled prevalence in Colombia and active participation in the domestic cycle ( Rodríguez-Monguí et al, 2019 ). However, this species represents a heterogeneous role in the ecoepidemiology of Chagas disease in this country, with importance as synanthropic reservoirs of T. cruzi in the Boyaca department to a secondary role in the Caribbean region ( Cantillo-Barraza et al, 2015 ; Ramirez et al, 2013b ).…”

“…On the other hand, D. marsupialis is a generalist species with great potential as T. cruzi reservoir, especially in highly disturbed environments due to its persistent high infection rates, and the highly adaptive behavior that allows it to live close to both domestic and sylvatic habitats and to transport infection between households ( Roque et al, 2013 ). In Colombia, D. marsupialis is the species with the highest prevalence and reports of infection with an active role in the sylvatic cycle and outbreaks resulting from oral transmission ( Guhl and Ramírez, 2013 ; Rodríguez-Monguí et al, 2019 ; Hernandez et al, 2016 ). However, the role of this species has not been extensively studied yet in the domestic and peridomestic T. cruzi transmission cycles despite its well-known synanthropic behavior.…”

Frecuencia de helmintos gastrointestinales en roedores sinantrópicos capturados en el Zoológico de Barranquilla

“…En Colombia, aunque los roedores han demostrado ser importantes en la trasmisión de microorganismos zoonóticos como T. cruzi, Leptospira sp., Rickettsia sp., Toxoplasma gondii, entre otros (4,5,6,7), los estudios con relación a la fauna parasitaria de estos animales y su rol como posibles transmisores de parásitos gastrointestinales con impacto en la salud pública y animal, son escasos (8,9). Algunos estudios con relación a esta temática sugieren una mayor positividad de parásitos gastrointestinales en roedores de áreas urbanas con una mayor disponibilidad de alimento y densidad de personas, demostrando el alto riesgo de infección en lugares con un mayor crecimiento urbanístico (8).…”