scholarly journals Automated identification of insect vectors of Chagas disease in Brazil and Mexico: the Virtual Vector Lab

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves ◽  
Ed Komp ◽  
Lindsay P. Campbell ◽  
Ali Khalighifar ◽  
Jarrett Mellenbruch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Insect Vectors ◽  
Automated Identification ◽  
Considerable Potential ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Fully Automated System

Identification of arthropods important in disease transmission is a crucial, yet difficult, task that can demand considerable training and experience. An important case in point is that of the 150+ species of Triatominae, vectors ofTrypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease across the Americas. We present a fully automated system that is able to identify triatomine bugs from Mexico and Brazil with an accuracy consistently above 80%, and with considerable potential for further improvement. The system processes digital photographs from a photo apparatus into landmarks, and uses ratios of measurements among those landmarks, as well as (in a preliminary exploration) two measurements that approximate aspects of coloration, as the basis for classification. This project has thus produced a working prototype that achieves reasonably robust correct identification rates, although many more developments can and will be added, and—more broadly—the project illustrates the value of multidisciplinary collaborations in resolving difficult and complex challenges.

scholarly journals The smORF-containing gene mille-pattes is required for moulting and Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Azevedo ◽  
Bruno Rodrigues ◽  
Sandy Alves ◽  
Lupis Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos Logullo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Polished Rice ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Small Open Reading Frames

SummaryChagas disease is estimated to affect 8 million people worldwide and is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths in Latin America every year. Control of the triatomine bugs that transmit the flagellated parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has been the most successful strategy to avoid disease spread. Genes containing small open reading frames (smORFs, < 100 amino acids) constitute a putative reservoir of new vector control targets, since hundreds of these genes are present in insect genomes. Here, we show that the prototypic smORF-containing gene mille-pattes/polished-rice/tarsalless (mlpt/pri/tal) is essential for postembryonic development of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus and for T. cruzi metacyclogenesis during the nymphal stages. Injection of double-stranded RNA against mlpt (Rp-dsmlpt) during the nymphal stages leads to a plethora of phenotypes, which impair postembryonic development. First, fourth or fifth stage nymphs injected with Rp-dsmlpt do not moult even in the presence of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) mRNA. Second, Rp-dsmlpt nymphs have defects in gut morphology, delayed haemoglobin digestion, and decreased defecation volume compared with those of the control nymphs. Third, Rp-mlpt knockdown inhibits T. cruzi differentiation to the trypomastigote infective stage (metacyclogenesis) inside the R. prolixus gut. Overall, our study is the first to provide evidence that a smORF-containing gene regulates vector physiology and parasitic cycle thus enabling the development of novel molecular strategies to eliminate Chagas disease transmission.

scholarly journals Mother-child transmission of Chagas disease: could coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus increase the risk?

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Gustavo Scapellato ◽  
Edgardo Gabriel Bottaro ◽  
María Teresa Rodríguez-Brieschke
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Child Transmission ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

A study was conducted on all newborns from mothers with Chagas disease who were attended at Hospital Donación F. Santojanni between January 1, 2001, and August 31, 2007. Each child was investigated for the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia through direct examination of blood under the microscope using the buffy coat method on three occasions during the first six months of life. Serological tests were then performed. Ninety-four children born to mothers infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were attended over the study period. Three of these children were born to mothers coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Vertical transmission of Chagas disease was diagnosed in 13 children, in all cases by identifying parasitemia. The overall Chagas disease transmission rate was 13.8% (13/94). It was 100% (3/3) among the children born to mothers with HIV infection and 10.9% (10/91) among children born to mothers without HIV [Difference = 0.89; CI95 = 0.82-0.95; p = 0.0021]. We concluded that coinfection with HIV could increase the risk of vertical transmission of Chagas disease.

scholarly journals Corrigenda: Peixoto SR, Rocha DS, Dale C, Galvão C (2020) Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille, 1811) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): first record on Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, razil.Check List 16 (2): 391–394. https://doi.org/10.15560/16.2.391

Check List ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 989-989
Author(s):  
Solange Peixoto ◽  
Dayse da Silva Rocha ◽  
Carolina Dale ◽  
Cleber Galvão
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
New Record ◽  
First Record ◽  
First Report ◽  
Panstrongylus Geniculatus

Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille, 1811) is the most widely distributed species in Brazil. This study presents the first report of this species collected inside a building in the “Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Desenvolvimento Sustentável”, at the Vila Dois Rios, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new record is important to understand the risk of Chagas disease transmission, mainly because this species is commonly found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909).

scholarly journals Unraveling Chagas disease transmission through the oral route: Gateways to Trypanosoma cruzi infection and target tissues

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e0005507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Silva-dos-Santos ◽  
Juliana Barreto-de-Albuquerque ◽  
Bárbara Guerra ◽  
Otacilio C. Moreira ◽  
Luiz Ricardo Berbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Cruzi Infection

scholarly journals The control of Latin American trypanosomiasis

1997 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Marsden
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
American Trypanosomiasis ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Latin America Countries

The author presents his personal point of view on the present situation of Chagas' disease control in Latin America countries. He compares the situation with African trypanosomiasis. He comments on the existence of cases in other Continents. He emphazises the success of the fighting against domiciliated triatomine bugs by using residual inseticides. He discusses other forms of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission.

scholarly journals Trypanosoma cruzi among wild and domestic mammals in different areas of the Abaetetuba municipality (Pará State, Brazil), an endemic Chagas disease transmission area

2013 ◽  
Vol 193 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Luiz R. Roque ◽  
Samanta C.C. Xavier ◽  
Marconny Gerhardt ◽  
Miguel F.O. Silva ◽  
Valdirene S. Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Transmission Area

scholarly journals Interrupting Chagas disease transmission in Venezuela

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto ACHÉ ◽  
Alí J. MATOS
Keyword(s):  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Geographical Differences ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Endemic Areas ◽  
House Infestation ◽  
Public Health Programmes ◽  
Health Programmes

The interruption of vectorial transmission of Chagas disease in Venezuela is attributed to the combined effects of ongoing entomoepidemiological surveillance, ongoing house spraying with residual insecticides and the concurrent building and modification of rural houses in endemic areas during almost five decades. The original endemic areas which totaled 750,000 km², have been reduced to 365,000 km². During 1958-1968, initial entomological evaluations carried out showed that the house infestation index ranged between 60-80%, the house infection index at 8-11% and a house density index of 30-50 triatomine bugs per house. By 1990-98, these indexes were further reduced to 1.6-4.0%, 0.01-0.6% and 3-4 bugs per house respectively. The overall rural population seroprevalence has declined from 44.5% (95% C.I.: 43.4-45.3%) to 9.2% (95% C.I.: 9.0-9.4%) for successive grouped periods from 1958 to 1998. The annual blood donor prevalence is firmly established below 1%. The population at risk of infection has been estimated to be less than four million. Given that prevalence rates are stable and appropriate for public health programmes, consideration has been given to potential biases that may distort results such as: a) geographical differences in illness or longevity of patients; b) variations in levels of ascertainment; c) variations in diagnostic criteria; and d) variations in population structure, mainly due to appreciable population migration. The endemic areas with continuous transmission are now mainly confined to piedmonts, as well as patchy foci in higher mountainous ranges, where the exclusive vector is Rhodnius prolixus. There is also an unstable area, of which landscapes are made up of grasslands with scattered broad-leaved evergreen trees and costal plains, where transmission is very low and occasional outbreaks are reported.

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