Epidemiological factors related to the transmission risk of Trypanosoma cruzi in a Quilombola community, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Marlon Cézar Cominetti ,Renato Andreotti,Elisa Teruya Oshiro,Maria Elizabeth Moraes Cavalheiros Dorval

doi:10.1590/s0037-86822011000500009

Abstract

This work was an epidemiological investigation of the risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the rural Quilombola community of Furnas do Dionízio, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Of the 71 animals examined, seven were captured (two opossums, Didelphis albiventris; four rats, Rattus rattus; and one nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus) and 64 were domestic (one canine, Canis familiaris; five pigs, Sus scrofa; two bovines, Bos taurus; five caprines, Capra sp.; and 51 ovines, Ovis aries). Parasitological tests were performed to detect parasites in the blood and to identify the morphology of flagellates. These methods included fresh examinations, buffy coat tests and blood cultures. Molecular analysis of DNA for identification of trypanosomatids was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers S35 and S36. The parasitological tests showed flagellates in an opossum and two cattle. The molecular tests showed DNA from T. cruzi in an opossum and a pig. Triatoma sordida was the only triatomine species found in the community, and it colonized households (four specimens) and the surrounding areas (124 specimens). Twenty-three specimens tested positive for flagellates, which were subsequently identified as T. cruzi by PCR. Data analysis demonstrated that T. cruzi has a peridomestic life cycle that involves both domestic and wild mammals.

Highlights

This work was an epidemiological investigation of the risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the rural Quilombola community of Furnas do Dionízio, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Trypanosoma cruzi is usually transmitted by a vector, mainly by the hematophagous Reduviidae insects, with the parasite penetrating into the host through skin lesions or mucosal or oral routes, and this last being the main way of parasite transmission to animals
Of the 138 species cataloged in Brazil[5], no more than five play a direct role in the epidemiology of the parasite[6]: Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834), which is considered to be the main vector of the disease in Brazil considering it is often present in housing and is markedly anthropophilic, T. brasiliensis (Neiva, 1911), Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835), T. pseudomaculata (Corrêa & Espínola, 1964) and T. sordida (Stal, 1859)

Summary

Introduction

This work was an epidemiological investigation of the risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the rural Quilombola community of Furnas do Dionízio, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Parasitological tests were performed to detect parasites in the blood and to identify the morphology of flagellates. These methods included fresh examinations, buffy coat tests and blood cultures. The genus Trypanosoma belongs to the order Kinetoplastida and comprises parasite species that affect vertebrates of all orders (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) and are transmitted by various blood-sucking invertebrate vectors. One of these parasites is Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Of the 138 species cataloged in Brazil[5], no more than five play a direct role in the epidemiology of the parasite[6]: Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834), which is considered to be the main vector of the disease in Brazil considering it is often present in housing and is markedly anthropophilic, T. brasiliensis (Neiva, 1911), Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835), T. pseudomaculata (Corrêa & Espínola, 1964) and T. sordida (Stal, 1859)

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Conclusion