Diversity and interactions among triatomine bugs, their blood feeding sources, gut microbiota and Trypanosoma cruzi in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia

Chagas disease remains a major neglected disease in Colombia. We aimed to characterize Trypanosoma cruzi transmission networks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) region, to shed light on disease ecology and help optimize control strategies. Triatomines were collected in rural communities and...

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Autores:
Murillo Solano, Claribel
López Domínguez, Jaime
Gongora, Rafael
Rojas Gulloso, Andrés Camilo
Usme Ciro, José Aldemar
Perdomo Balaguera, Erick
Herrera, Claudia
Parra Henao, Gabriel
Dumonteil, Eric
Tipo de recurso:
Article of investigation
Fecha de publicación:
2021
Institución:
Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Repositorio:
Repositorio UCC
Idioma:
OAI Identifier:
oai:repository.ucc.edu.co:20.500.12494/46838
Acceso en línea:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91783-2
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12494/46838
Palabra clave:
Trypanosoma cruzi
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Rights
openAccess
License
Atribución
Description
Summary:Chagas disease remains a major neglected disease in Colombia. We aimed to characterize Trypanosoma cruzi transmission networks in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) region, to shed light on disease ecology and help optimize control strategies. Triatomines were collected in rural communities and analyzed for blood feeding sources, parasite diversity and gut microbiota composition through a metagenomic and deep sequencing approach. Triatoma dimidiata predominated, followed by Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma maculata, Rhodnius pallescens, Panstrongylus geniculatus and Eratyrus cuspidatus. Twenty-two species were identified as blood sources, resulting in an integrated transmission network with extensive connectivity among sylvatic and domestic host species. Only TcI parasites were detected, predominantly from TcIb but TcIa was also reported. The close relatedness of T. cruzi strains further supported the lack of separate transmission cycles according to habitats or triatomine species. Triatomine microbiota varied according to species, developmental stage and T. cruzi infection. Bacterial families correlated with the presence/absence of T. cruzi were identified. In conclusion, we identified a domestic transmission cycle encompassing multiple vector species and tightly connected with sylvatic hosts in the SNSM region, rather than an isolated domestic transmission cycle. Therefore, integrated interventions targeting all vector species and their contact with humans should be considered.