Risk factors associated with Trypanosoma cruziexposure in domestic dogs from a rural community in Panama

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is a zoonosis of humans, wild and domestic mammals, including dogs. In Panama, the main T. cruzi vector is hodnius pallescens, a triatomine bug whose main natural habitat is the royal palm, Attalea butyracea. In this paper, we present results from three T. cruzi serological tests (immunochromatographic dipstick, indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA) performed in 51 dogs from 24 houses in Trinidad de Las Minas, western Panama. We found that nine dogs were seropositive (17.6% prevalence). Dogs were 1.6 times more likely to become T. cruzi seropositive with each year of age and 11.6 times if royal palms where present in the peridomiciliary area of the dog's household or its two nearest neighbours. Mouse-baited-adhesive traps were employed to evaluate 12 peridomestic royal palms. All palms were found infested with R. pallescens with an average of 25.50 triatomines captured per palm. Of 35 adult bugs analysed, 88.6% showed protozoa flagellates in their intestinal contents. In addition, dogs were five times more likely to be infected by the presence of an additional domestic animal species in the dog's peridomiciliary environment. Our results suggest that interventions focused on royal palms might reduce the exposure to T. cruzi infection.

Modeling the effects of palm-house proximity on the theoretical risk of Chagas disease transmission in a rural locality of the Orinoco basin, Colombia

“…Moreover, Saldaña et al [25] reported dogs in a rural location in Panama, were 11.6 times more likely to become infected if Attalea butyracea palms were present in the peridomicile. The effectiveness of vector control strategies could increase by considering the flying ability of triatomine bugs [15] and recognizing the role that palm-house proximity plays in house infestation and re-infestation after control strategies [23, 26].…”

Assessment of the anti‐feeding and insecticidal effects of the combination of dinotefuran, permethrin and pyriproxyfen (Vectra®3D) againstTriatoma infestanson rats

“…In outbreaks, particularly in Argentina, where Chagas' disease is transmitted by T. infestans, dogs and cats represent domestic reservoirs of T. cruzi infection (Cardinal et al, 2007). Levels of canine seroprevalence to T. cruzi are high in 15 countries and vary from 8 to 50% across various surveys, which are often conducted using different techniques (Barbabosa-Pliego et al, 2011;Berrizbeitia et al, 2013;Chikweto et al, 2014;Tenney et al, 2014;Alroy et al, 2015;Gürtler & Cardinal, 2015;Saldaña et al, 2015). Dogs should be prevented from becoming infected by restraining their access to ecosystems that feature vector bugs.…”

Landscape Disturbance Impacts on Attalea Butyracea Palm Distribution in Central Panama: Implications for Chagas Disease Transmission

“…In Panama, there are 10 triatomine bug species that are T. cruzi vectors. However, only two species, Triatoma dimidiata and Rhodnius pallescens, are associated with Chagas disease transmission to human populations in this region; of these, R. pallescens is Panama's dominant vector (16,17). R. pallescens' preferred habitat, the A. butyracea palm (Figure 1), is a dense-crowned species in the subtribe Attaleinae that ranges from Mexico to western Amazonia (6,9).…”

“…A. butyracea palms in secondary growth regions are more likely to be infested with Chagas disease vectors (8), and, when initial deforestation occurs as a result of human settlement and agriculture, inherently more likely to exist in close proximity to human establishments (9,10). This close proximity of households to Attalea spp palms is hypothesized to increase risk of Chagas disease transmission in humans (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) and has been shown, in one study, to increase risk in domestic canine populations (17).…”