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Patricia L Dorn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Factors associated with peridomestic Triatoma Sanguisuga (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) presence in southeastern Louisiana.
Journal of medical entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Robin M. Moudy, Kevin A Caillouet, Sarah R. Michaels, Samuel Jameson, Berlin Londoño, Velma K. Lopez, Camden J. Hallmark, Justin K. Davis, Ivo M. Foppa, Patricia L DornAbstract:ABSTRACT Although rare, there have been isolated reports of autochthonous transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas in the United States. In June 2006, a human case of domestically transmitted T. cruzi was identified in southern Louisiana. To examine the localized risk of human T. cruzi infection in the area surrounding the initial human case, environmental surveys of households in the area and a serological survey of the residents were performed between September 2008 and November 2009. Human T. cruzi infection was determined using a rapid antigen field test, followed by confirmatory enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing in the laboratory. A perimeter search of each participating residence for Triatoma Sanguisuga (LeConte), the predominant local triatomine species, was also performed. No participating individuals were positive for antibodies against T. cruzi; however, high levels of T. cruzi infection (62.4%) were detected in collected T. Sanguisuga. Households with T. Sanguisuga presence were less li...
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Triatoma Sanguisuga blood meals and potential for Chagas disease, Louisiana, USA.
Emerging infectious diseases, 2014Co-Authors: Etienne Waleckx, Julianne Suarez, Bethany Richards, Patricia L DornAbstract:To evaluate human risk for Chagas disease, we molecularly identified blood meal sources and prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among 49 Triatoma Sanguisuga kissing bugs in Louisiana, USA. Humans accounted for the second most frequent blood source. Of the bugs that fed on humans, ≈40% were infected with T. cruzi, revealing transmission potential.
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Triatoma Sanguisuga Blood Meals and Potential for
2014Co-Authors: Julianne Suarez, Bethany Richards, Patricia L DornAbstract:). This number is probably an underestimate, and there is concern that vectorial transmission to humans in the Unit-ed States may increase because of the following factors: 1) loss of sylvan blood sources because of habitat destruc-tion, forcing the bugs to seek other (possibly human) blood sources; 2) climate change that could extend the range of the vectors northward; and 3) introduction of parasites by migrants from disease-endemic countries (
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Autochthonous Transmission of
2013Co-Authors: Patricia L Dorn, Leon Perniciaro, Michael J Yabsley, Dawn M Roellig, Gary Balsamo, James Diaz, Dawn WessonAbstract:Autochthonous transmission of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, was detected in a patient in rural New Orleans, Louisiana. The patient had positive test results from 2 serologic tests and hemoculture. Fifty-six percent of 18 Triatoma Sanguisuga collected from the house of the patient were positive for T. cruzi by PCR. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America; 13 million people are infected with the causative agent, the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and 200,000 new cases are reported annually (1). Although Chagas disease occurs mostly as heart disease, megasyndrome (enlargement of the visceral organs) is also seen in patients in South America. Transmission is usually by contamination of a person with parasite-laden feces of a triatomine bug (family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae, commonly known as kissing bugs), which deposits feces on the skin while feeding. The parasite can then enter through the bite wound, mucous membranes, or conjunctiva. Transmission by blood transfusion, organ transplant, and congenital and oral routes can also occur. Only 5 autochthonous cases of infection with the Chagas disease parasite have been reported in the United States: 3 in infants in Texas (2,3), 1 in an infant in Tennessee (4), and 1 in a 56-year-old woman in California (5). The most important triatomine species in the United States for Chagas disease transmission are Triatoma Sanguisuga, whose broad range extends across the southeast and reaches Maryland and Texas, and T. gerstaekeri, found in Texas and New Mexico (6). There is an active sylvan cycle in the United States; T. cruzi has been identified directly or by serologic analysis in>18 species of mammals (7), including raccoons, opossums, armadillos, foxes
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high trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplastida trypanosomatidae prevalence in Triatoma Sanguisuga hemiptera redviidae in southeastern louisiana
Journal of Medical Entomology, 2011Co-Authors: K Cesa, Patricia L Dorn, Kevin A Caillouet, Dawn M WessonAbstract:ABSTRACT From May through November 2007, intensive weekly surveys at the site of a previously reported autochthonous human case of Chagas parasite infection resulted in the collection of 298 Triatoma Sanguisuga (Leconte) specimens, of which 60.4% (180) were polymerase chain reaction positive for Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas. All were adults, in a ratio of ≈1:1 female to male, indicating that the domicile was not colonized, but was a destination for these host-seeking adults. We report on seasonal activity pattern, T. cruzi prevalence in T. Sanguisuga, and attempts at insect exclusion and control at the case residence.
Dawn M Wesson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma Sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana
Parasites & vectors, 2015Co-Authors: Claudia Herrera, Samuel Jameson, Meredith H Licon, Catherine S. Nation, Dawn M WessonAbstract:Background Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that represents a major public health problem in Latin America. Although the United States is defined as non-endemic for Chagas disease due to the rarity of human cases, the presence of T. cruzi has now been amply demonstrated as enzootic in different regions of the south of the country from Georgia to California. In southeastern Louisiana, a high T. cruzi infection rate has been demonstrated in Triatoma Sanguisuga, the local vector in this area. However, little is known about the role of small mammals in the wild and peridomestic transmission cycles.
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Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma Sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana
Parasites & Vectors, 2015Co-Authors: Claudia P Herrera, Catherine S. Nation, Meredith H Licon, Samuel B Jameson, Dawn M WessonAbstract:Background Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that represents a major public health problem in Latin America. Although the United States is defined as non-endemic for Chagas disease due to the rarity of human cases, the presence of T. cruzi has now been amply demonstrated as enzootic in different regions of the south of the country from Georgia to California. In southeastern Louisiana, a high T. cruzi infection rate has been demonstrated in Triatoma Sanguisuga , the local vector in this area. However, little is known about the role of small mammals in the wild and peridomestic transmission cycles. Methods This study focused on the molecular identification and genotyping of T. cruzi in both small rodents and T. Sanguisuga from a rural area of New Orleans, Louisiana. DNA extractions were prepared from rodent heart, liver, spleen and skeletal muscle tissues and from cultures established from vector feces. T. cruzi infection was determined by standard PCR using primers specific for the minicircle variable region of the kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA) and the highly repetitive genomic satellite DNA (satDNA). Genotyping of discrete typing units (DTUs) was performed by amplification of mini-exon and 18S and 24Sα rRNA genes and subsequent sequence analysis. Results The DTUs TcI, TcIV and, for the first time, TcII, were identified in tissues of mice and rats naturally infected with T. cruzi captured in an area of New Orleans, close to the house where the first human case of Chagas disease was reported in Louisiana. The T. cruzi infection rate in 59 captured rodents was 76%. The frequencies of the detected DTUs in such mammals were TcI 82%, TcII 22% and TcIV 9%; 13% of all infections contained more than one DTU. Conclusions Our results indicate a probable presence of a considerably greater diversity in T. cruzi DTUs circulating in the southeastern United States than previously reported. Understanding T. cruzi transmission dynamics in sylvatic and peridomestic cycles in mammals and insect vectors will be crucial to estimating the risk of local, vector-borne transmission of T. cruzi to humans in the United States.
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high trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplastida trypanosomatidae prevalence in Triatoma Sanguisuga hemiptera redviidae in southeastern louisiana
Journal of Medical Entomology, 2011Co-Authors: K Cesa, Patricia L Dorn, Kevin A Caillouet, Dawn M WessonAbstract:ABSTRACT From May through November 2007, intensive weekly surveys at the site of a previously reported autochthonous human case of Chagas parasite infection resulted in the collection of 298 Triatoma Sanguisuga (Leconte) specimens, of which 60.4% (180) were polymerase chain reaction positive for Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas. All were adults, in a ratio of ≈1:1 female to male, indicating that the domicile was not colonized, but was a destination for these host-seeking adults. We report on seasonal activity pattern, T. cruzi prevalence in T. Sanguisuga, and attempts at insect exclusion and control at the case residence.
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autochthonous transmission of trypanosoma cruzi louisiana
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2007Co-Authors: Patricia L Dorn, Leon Perniciaro, Michael J Yabsley, Dawn M Roellig, Gary Balsamo, James H Diaz, Dawn M WessonAbstract:Autochthonous transmission of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, was detected in a patient in rural New Orleans, Louisiana. The patient had positive test results from 2 serologic tests and hemoculture. Fifty-six percent of 18 Triatoma Sanguisuga collected from the house of the patient were positive for T. cruzi by PCR.
Sarah A. Hamer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A Pilot Radio Telemetry Field Study of Triatomine Vectors (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) of the Chagas Disease Parasite.
Journal of medical entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Gabriel L. Hamer, Rachel Curtis-robles, Justin R Bejcek, Edwin Valdez, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:We conducted the first pilot radio telemetry study of hematophagous arthropods by placing transmitters on wild-caught triatomine insects ('kissing bugs'), vectors of the Chagas disease parasite. In Texas-a recognized hotspot for triatomine diversity and locally-acquired human and animal Chagas disease-we tagged five female and four male Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stal) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), as well as one female and one male Triatoma Sanguisuga (Leconte) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in three counties from 2015 to 2017. In comparative trials, placement of the transmitter on the dorsal side of the abdomen underneath the hemelytra wings, with the transmitter antenna shortened to 3 cm, yielded the best results. We tracked the movements of the 11 tagged bugs over an average of 4.8 d (range of 1 to 12 d) and detected 18 movement events with an average distance of 3.8 m (range of 1 to 20 m). This pilot study demonstrates the potential utility for using telemetry as a tool for studying fine-scale non-flight movement of triatomines and the discovery of cryptic resting habitats. Future studies using this or similar technologies to study movement and behavior of triatomines could test for site-fidelity of resting habitats and provide novel insight into aspects of vector biology that could be targeted in disease risk reduction efforts.
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bionomics and spatial distribution of triatomine vectors of trypanosoma cruzi in texas and other southern states usa
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2017Co-Authors: Rachel Curtisrobles, Sarah A. Hamer, Sage Lane, Michael J Levy, Gabriel L. HamerAbstract:Defining spatial and temporal occurrences of triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, in the US is critical for public health protection. Through a citizen science program and field collections from 2012 to 2016, we collected 3,215 triatomines, mainly from Texas. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we identified seven Triatoma species and report sex, length, and blood engorgement status. Many citizen-collected triatomines (92.9%) were encountered indoors, in peridomestic settings, or in dog kennels and represent spillover transmission risk of T. cruzi to humans and domestic animals. The most commonly collected species were Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Triatoma Sanguisuga. Adult T. gerstaeckeri were collected from May to September, peaking from June to July, whereas adult T. Sanguisuga were active later, from June to October, peaking from July to September. Based on cross correlation analyses, peaks of captures varied by species and across years. Point pattern analyses revealed unique occurrences of T. Sanguisuga in north and east Texas, T. gerstaeckeri in south and west Texas, Triatoma indictiva and Triatoma lecticularia in central Texas, and Triatoma rubida in west Texas. These relatively unique spatial occurrences suggest associations with different suitable habitats and serve as a basis for future models evaluating the ecological niches of different vector species. Understanding the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of triatomines in the southern United States will improve targeted interventions of vector control and will guide public outreach and education to reduce human and animal contact with vectors and reduce the risk of exposure to T. cruzi.
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Epidemiology and Molecular Typing of Trypanosoma cruzi in Naturally-Infected Hound Dogs and Associated Triatomine Vectors in Texas, USA.
PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2017Co-Authors: Rachel Curtis-robles, Karen F Snowden, Brandon J. Dominguez, Lewis Dinges, Sandy Rodgers, Glennon Mays, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:Background Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease throughout the Americas. Few population-level studies have examined the epidemiology of canine infection and strain types of T. cruzi that infect canines in the USA. We conducted a cross-sectional study of T. cruzi infection in working hound dogs in south central Texas, including analysis of triatomine vectors collected within kennel environments. Methodology/Principle Findings Paired IFA and Chagas Stat-Pak serological testing showed an overall seroprevalence of 57.6% (n = 85), with significant variation across kennels. Dog age had a marginally significant effect on seropositivity, with one year of age increase associated with a 19.6% increase in odds of being seropositive (odds ratio 95% CI 0.996–1.435; p = 0.055). PCR analyses of blood revealed 17.4% of dogs harbored parasite DNA in their blood, including both seronegative and seropositive dogs. Molecular screening of organs from opportunistically sampled seropositive dogs revealed parasite DNA in heart, uterus, and mammary tissues. Strain-typing showed parasite discrete typing units (DTU) TcI and TcIV present in dog samples, including a co-occurrence of both DTUs in two individual dogs. Bloodmeal analysis of Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Triatoma Sanguisuga insects collected from the kennels revealed exclusively dog DNA. Vector infection with T. cruzi was 80.6% (n = 36), in which T. gerstaeckeri disproportionately harbored TcI (p = 0.045) and T. Sanguisuga disproportionately harbored TcIV (p = 0.029). Tracing infection status across dog litters showed some seropositive offspring of seronegative dams, suggesting infection of pups from local triatomine vectors rather than congenital transmission. Conclusions/Significance Canine kennels are high-risk environments for T. cruzi transmission, in which dogs likely serve as the predominant parasite reservoir. Disease and death of working dogs from Chagas disease is associated with unmeasured yet undoubtedly significant financial consequences because working dogs are highly trained and highly valued.
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Three species of kissing bugs commonly found in Texas.
2015Co-Authors: Rachel Curtis-robles, Edward J. Wozniak, Lisa D. Auckland, Gabriel L. Hamer, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:(Left to right) Triatoma protracta, the most common species in the western U.S.; Triatoma gerstaeckeri, the most common species in Texas; Triatoma Sanguisuga, the most common species in the eastern U.S. Scale bar represents 25mm or approximately 1 inch.
Gabriel L. Hamer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A Pilot Radio Telemetry Field Study of Triatomine Vectors (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) of the Chagas Disease Parasite.
Journal of medical entomology, 2018Co-Authors: Gabriel L. Hamer, Rachel Curtis-robles, Justin R Bejcek, Edwin Valdez, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:We conducted the first pilot radio telemetry study of hematophagous arthropods by placing transmitters on wild-caught triatomine insects ('kissing bugs'), vectors of the Chagas disease parasite. In Texas-a recognized hotspot for triatomine diversity and locally-acquired human and animal Chagas disease-we tagged five female and four male Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stal) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), as well as one female and one male Triatoma Sanguisuga (Leconte) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in three counties from 2015 to 2017. In comparative trials, placement of the transmitter on the dorsal side of the abdomen underneath the hemelytra wings, with the transmitter antenna shortened to 3 cm, yielded the best results. We tracked the movements of the 11 tagged bugs over an average of 4.8 d (range of 1 to 12 d) and detected 18 movement events with an average distance of 3.8 m (range of 1 to 20 m). This pilot study demonstrates the potential utility for using telemetry as a tool for studying fine-scale non-flight movement of triatomines and the discovery of cryptic resting habitats. Future studies using this or similar technologies to study movement and behavior of triatomines could test for site-fidelity of resting habitats and provide novel insight into aspects of vector biology that could be targeted in disease risk reduction efforts.
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bionomics and spatial distribution of triatomine vectors of trypanosoma cruzi in texas and other southern states usa
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2017Co-Authors: Rachel Curtisrobles, Sarah A. Hamer, Sage Lane, Michael J Levy, Gabriel L. HamerAbstract:Defining spatial and temporal occurrences of triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, in the US is critical for public health protection. Through a citizen science program and field collections from 2012 to 2016, we collected 3,215 triatomines, mainly from Texas. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we identified seven Triatoma species and report sex, length, and blood engorgement status. Many citizen-collected triatomines (92.9%) were encountered indoors, in peridomestic settings, or in dog kennels and represent spillover transmission risk of T. cruzi to humans and domestic animals. The most commonly collected species were Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Triatoma Sanguisuga. Adult T. gerstaeckeri were collected from May to September, peaking from June to July, whereas adult T. Sanguisuga were active later, from June to October, peaking from July to September. Based on cross correlation analyses, peaks of captures varied by species and across years. Point pattern analyses revealed unique occurrences of T. Sanguisuga in north and east Texas, T. gerstaeckeri in south and west Texas, Triatoma indictiva and Triatoma lecticularia in central Texas, and Triatoma rubida in west Texas. These relatively unique spatial occurrences suggest associations with different suitable habitats and serve as a basis for future models evaluating the ecological niches of different vector species. Understanding the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of triatomines in the southern United States will improve targeted interventions of vector control and will guide public outreach and education to reduce human and animal contact with vectors and reduce the risk of exposure to T. cruzi.
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Three species of kissing bugs commonly found in Texas.
2015Co-Authors: Rachel Curtis-robles, Edward J. Wozniak, Lisa D. Auckland, Gabriel L. Hamer, Sarah A. HamerAbstract:(Left to right) Triatoma protracta, the most common species in the western U.S.; Triatoma gerstaeckeri, the most common species in Texas; Triatoma Sanguisuga, the most common species in the eastern U.S. Scale bar represents 25mm or approximately 1 inch.
Claudia Herrera - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Interactions among Triatoma Sanguisuga blood feeding sources, gut microbiota and Trypanosoma cruzi diversity in southern Louisiana
Molecular ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Eric Dumonteil, Henry Pronovost, Eli F. Bierman, Anna Sanford, Alicia Majeau, Ryan M. Moore, Claudia HerreraAbstract:Integrating how biodiversity and infectious disease dynamics are linked at multiple levels and scales is highly challenging. Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease, with specificities of the triatomine vectors and Trypanosoma cruzi parasite life histories resulting in a complex multihost and multistrain life cycle. Here, we tested the hypothesis that T. cruzi transmission cycles are shaped by triatomine host communities and gut microbiota composition by comparing the integrated interactions of Triatoma Sanguisuga in southern Louisiana with feeding hosts, T. cruzi parasite and bacterial microbiota in two habitats. Bugs were collected from resident's houses and animal shelters and analysed for genetic structure, blood feeding sources, T. cruzi parasites, and bacterial diversity by PCR amplification of specific DNA markers followed by next-generation sequencing, in an integrative metabarcoding approach. T. Sanguisuga feeding host communities appeared opportunistic and defined by host abundance in each habitat, yielding distinct parasite transmission networks among hosts. The circulation of a large diversity of T. cruzi DTUs was also detected, with TcII and TcV detected for the first time in triatomines in the US. The bacterial microbiota was highly diverse and varied significantly according to the DTU infecting the bugs, indicating specific interactions among them in the gut. Expanding such studies to multiple habitats and additional triatomine species would be key to further refine our understanding of the complex life cycles of multihost, multistrain parasites such as T. cruzi, and may lead to improved disease control strategies.
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Genotype diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in small rodents and Triatoma Sanguisuga from a rural area in New Orleans, Louisiana
Parasites & vectors, 2015Co-Authors: Claudia Herrera, Samuel Jameson, Meredith H Licon, Catherine S. Nation, Dawn M WessonAbstract:Background Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that represents a major public health problem in Latin America. Although the United States is defined as non-endemic for Chagas disease due to the rarity of human cases, the presence of T. cruzi has now been amply demonstrated as enzootic in different regions of the south of the country from Georgia to California. In southeastern Louisiana, a high T. cruzi infection rate has been demonstrated in Triatoma Sanguisuga, the local vector in this area. However, little is known about the role of small mammals in the wild and peridomestic transmission cycles.
