Disentangling Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle dynamics through the identification of blood meal sources of natural populations of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatan, Mexico.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Little effort has been made to identify blood meal sources of T. dimidiata in natural conditions in this region, although this provides key information to disentangle T. cruzi transmission cycles and dynamics and guide the development of more effective control strategies. We identified the blood meals of a large sample of T. dimidiata bugs collected in different ecotopes simultaneously with the assessment of bug infection with T. cruzi, to disentangle the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in the region. METHODS:A sample of 248 T. dimidiata bugs collected in three rural villages and in the sylvatic habitat surrounding these villages was used. DNA fr

SUBMITTER: Moo-Millan JI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6884771 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature