Identification of Triatomines and Their Habitats in a Highly Developed Urban Environment

Dye‐Braumuller, Kyndall C.; Gorchakov, Rodion; Gunter, Sarah M.; Nielsen, David H.; Roachell, Walter; Wheless, Anna; Debboun, Mustapha; Murray, Kristy O.; Nolan, Melissa S.

doi:10.1089/vbz.2018.2352

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Triatomines were collected from resident homes by study participants, our team, and overnight traps. Trap specifications have been previously described ( Dye-Braumuller et al, 2019 ). Collections in BBNP were conducted nightly through UV blacklight (BioQuip Products, Rancho Dominguez, CA) trapping and active searching.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas

Dye‐Braumuller

Lynn

Gorchakov

et al. 2020

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas

Dye‐Braumuller

Lynn

Gorchakov

et al. 2020

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

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“…Essentially sylvatic, with adults visiting human dwellings/ native [60] T. sordida Argentina (Corrientes province)/ Brazil (Goia ´s)…”

Section: Nc/ Native [59]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban vectors of Chagas disease in the American continent: A systematic review of epidemiological surveys

Carbajal-de-la-Fuente

Sánchez-Casaccia

Piccinali

et al. 2022

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Background Chagas is a complex and multidimensional socio-environmental health phenomenon, in which different components converge and interact. Historically, this disease was associated with insect vectors found in the rural environment. However, in the Americas, we are currently facing a new paradigm, in which different scenarios allow maintaining the vectorial transmission of the parasite through triatomine populations that either occasionally enter the dwellings or colonize urban environments. Methodology/Principal findings Records of scientific reports available in the PubMed and LILACS search engines were retrieved, using three criteria according to the main triatomine genera of epidemiological importance and to the general scientific production on Chagas disease in urban contexts. Results showed that records on the occurrence of vectors in urban dwellings began to increase in the last three decades. Results also showed that the main species of triatomines collected inside dwellings (18 in total) belong mainly to the genera Triatoma and Panstrongylus, with most species (16/18, 88.8%) infected with the parasite, and that infestation of triatomine species occurs in all types of cities (small, medium and large, including megalopolises), from Argentina to the USA. Conclusions/Significance Urban Chagas represents a new challenge that adds a different dimension to the problem of Chagas disease due to the particular characteristics of the lifestyle in urban agglomerates. The new scenario will require adaptations of the programs of control of vector to this shift from rural to urban settlements.

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“…Local public health agencies and triatomine researchers frequently attempt to collect triatomines from areas where human or animal cases of Chagas have occurred or where locations have been made in the past. Often considerable search effort can yield low success rates [72], and it is likely that many search efforts for triatomines that never yield positives remain unpublished. Having a scent detection canine trained specifically on triatomines would be a valuable tool in many contexts in the U.S. and beyond.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collection of triatomines from sylvatic habitats by a Chagas-positive, trained scent-detection canine in Texas, USA

Christopher

Curtis‐Robles

Hamer

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundTriatomine insects, vectors of the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), are challenging to locate in sylvatic habitats. Collection techniques used in the United States often rely on methods to intercept seasonally dispersing adults or on community scientists’ encounters. Neither method is suited for detecting nidicolous habitats, which is important for vector control. Furthermore, manual inspection of suspected harborages is unlikely to reveal novel locations and host associations. Similar to a team that used a trained dog to detect sylvatic triatomines in Paraguay, we worked with a trained scent detection dog to detect sylvatic locations of triatomines across Texas.Principle methodology/FindingsZiza, a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer previously naturally infected with T. cruzi, was trained to detect triatomines. Over the course of 6 weeks in the fall of 2017, the dog and her handler visited 18 sites across Texas. The dog detected 60 triatomines at 7 locations; an additional 50 triatomines were contemporaneously collected at these sites without the assistance of the dog. Approximately 0.98 triatomines per hour were found when only humans were conducting searches; when working with the dog, approximately 1.71 triatomines per hour were found. In total, 3 adults and 107 nymphs of four species (Triatoma gerstaeckeri, Triatoma protracta, Triatoma sanguisuga, and Triatoma indictiva) were collected. PCR testing of a subset revealed T. cruzi infection, including DTUs TcI and TcIV, in 28% of nymphs (n=100) and 66% of adults (n=3). Blood meal analysis of a subset of triatomines (n=5) revealed feeding on Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), Southern plains woodrat (Neotoma micropus) and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).Conclusion/SignificanceA trained scent detection dog enhanced triatomine detections in sylvatic habitats. This approach is especially effective at detecting triatomine nymphs and nidicolous locations. With new knowledge of specific sylvatic habitats and key hosts fed upon by triatomines, there are opportunities for continued exploration of novel vector control methods to block the transmission of T. cruzi to humans and domestic animals.Author summaryTriatomine insects, also known as ‘kissing bugs,’ are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans, dogs, and other mammals. Triatomines are found throughout the Americas, but little is known about where these blood-sucking insects spend their early life stages. Knowing more is important to vector control initiatives aimed at interrupting Chagas disease transmission. Scent detection dogs have been trained to detect many pests, including one study of a triatomine detection dog in South America. In this study, we used a dog to detect triatomines in their natural environments throughout Texas. Over 6 weeks, the dog identified 60 triatomines at 7 different locations; an additional 50 triatomines were collected without the dog’s assistance. Nearly twice as many triatomines were collected per hour when the dog was searching as compared to only humans searching. Of all the triatomine nymphs collected, 28% were positive for T. cruzi, and the blood meal analysis revealed kissing bugs had fed on Southern plains woodrat, opossum, and eastern cottontail. This study outlines a strategy that can be replicated in the United States to enhance the detection and control of habitats where triatomines spend their early life stages.

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Identification of Triatomines and Their Habitats in a Highly Developed Urban Environment

Cited by 19 publications

References 53 publications

Low Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas

Low Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas

Urban vectors of Chagas disease in the American continent: A systematic review of epidemiological surveys

Collection of triatomines from sylvatic habitats by a Chagas-positive, trained scent-detection canine in Texas, USA

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