Abstract
Ecologic niche modeling may improve our understanding of epidemiologically relevant vector and parasite-reservoir distributions. We used this tool to identify host relationships of Triatoma species implicated in transmission of Chagas disease. Associations have been documented between the protracta complex (Triatoma: Triatominae: Reduviidae) with packrat species (Neotoma spp.), providing an excellent case study for the broader challenge of developing hypotheses of association. Species pairs that were identified coincided exactly with those in previous studies, suggesting that local interactions between Triatoma and Neotoma species and subspecies have implications at a geographic level. Nothing is known about sylvatic associates of T. barberi, which are considered the primary Chagas vector in Mexico; its geographic distribution coincided closely with that of N. mexicana, suggesting interaction. The presence of the species was confirmed in two regions where it had been predicted but not previously collected. This approach may help in identifying Chagas disease risk areas, planning vector-control strategies, and exploring parasite-reservoir associations for other emerging diseases.
Highlights
Chagas disease is caused by the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by blood-feeding insects in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae
The protracta species group consists of seven species (Triatoma protracta, T. peninsularis, T. sinaloensis, T. neotomae, T. barberi, T. nitida, and T. incrassata); T. protracta contains five subspecies: T. p. protracta, T. p. woodi, T. p. navajoensis, T. p. zacatecensis, and T. p. nahuatlae [1,2]
We applied ecologic niche modeling to identify host relationships of Triatoma species and subspecies implicated in the transmission of Chagas disease
Summary
Chagas disease is caused by the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by blood-feeding insects in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae. We applied ecologic niche modeling to identify host relationships of Triatoma species and subspecies implicated in the transmission of Chagas disease. Previous studies by Ryckman [1] provide an ideal test case: hypotheses of association developed based on the modeling approach can be tested independently by using associations identified in Ryckman’s detailed field studies. If successful, this approach would be invaluable in identifying host relationships for species for which detailed information is not available, for stratifying Chagas disease risk areas, and for planning the operational aspects of vector control strategies
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