Infected Population Research Articles

The Relationship Between PTSD and Physical Disability among Adults

From the data collected by the World Health Organization, the population affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is measured at 12 million in America, especially after the outburst of COVID-19. A further outbreak of post-traumatic stress-related syndrome is achieving a large leap in the infected population. Hence, more and more studies about such disorders are being put into more and more attention in the field of abnormal Psychology. The revaluation of certain disorders had become a significant focus. This paper focused on the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder after traumatic events such as sexual harassment and in the post-COVID-19 period. It highlights the need to develop inclusive formulas beyond post-traumatic stress disorder to understand the psychological difficulties experienced by affected populations. It also explores the relationship between human cognition and physical dysfunction, including immune system disorders, structural changes in the brain, and memory trade-offs associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. The social aspects of PTSD are also discussed, highlighting its impact on individuals in different social contexts. Finally, popular interventions such as prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and trauma-centered cognitive behavioral therapy are mentioned. The limitations of current PTSD diagnoses are acknowledged. The limitation of the research is also apparent. The understanding of to what extent factors like cultural background and culture dimensions, under different macro environments, the influence is being less discussed and less easy to determine as well.

Epidemiological characteristics and temporal-spatial clustering analysis on human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province, 2006–2021

The marked increase in the incidence rate of brucellosis is a serious public health concern in Jiangsu Province. However, its temporal and spatial distribution has not been studied in depth. The main purpose of this study is to depict the demographic, temporal and spatial distribution patterns and clustering characteristics of brucellosis cases in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2006 to 2021 to develop and implement effective scientific prevention and control strategies. Data for human brucellosis cases in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2021 were obtained from the Nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System (NIDRIS). Spatial autocorrelation analysis and temporal-spatial scan statistics were used to identify potential changes in the spatial and temporal distributions of human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province. During the years 2006–2021, 1347 brucellosis cases were reported in Jiangsu Province, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.1036 per 100,000 individuals. Middle-aged and elderly individuals (aged 40–69 years) were the main infected populations, accounting for 69.72% (939/1347) of all reported cases. The incidence of brucellosis in Jiangsu showed a long-term increasing trend and displayed pronounced seasonal variations, with the peak occurring between April and June annually. The incidence gradually expanded from the northern and southern areas to the central areas between 2006 and 2021. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation in the incidence of brucellosis between 2008 and 2012–2021. Temporal-spatial clustering analysis showed that the primary cluster was detected in the northern, highly endemic regions of Jiangsu, and the three secondary clusters were in areas where there had been outbreaks of brucellosis. Human brucellosis remains a serious public health issue in Jiangsu Province. Northern and southern Jiangsu regions, with high rates of brucellosis, may require special plans and measures to monitor and control the disease. Additionally, the capacity to respond to outbreaks in high-incidence areas should be improved to prevent further brucellosis outbreaks.

Analysis of the impact of treatments on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis co-infected population under random perturbations

In this work, we study the impact of treatments at different stages of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection in a population under the influence of random perturbations. This is achieved by constructing a stochastic epidemic model describing the transmission and treatment of the diseases. The model is created with the assumption that transmission rates fluctuate rapidly compared to the evolution of the untreated diseases. The basic reproduction numbers corresponding to the population with HIV infection only (with n stages of infections and treatments), the population with tuberculosis infection only, and the overall population with co-infection (with n stages of infection/treatments) are derived in the presence and absence of noise perturbations. These are used to discuss the long term behavior of the population around a disease-free equilibrium and an endemic equilibrium, and to analyze the effect of noise and treatments on the system. We also showed conditions under which TB infected population dynamic undergoes backward bifurcation and give conditions for disease eradication in the entire population. Analysis shows that small perturbations to the disease-free equilibrium can initially grow under certain conditions, and the introduction of TB treatment is effective in eliminating the co-infection. Numerical simulations are presented for validation of our results using published parameters.

Dynamics analysis of a diffusive SIRI epidemic system under logistic source and general incidence rate

This study presents and examines a diffusive SIRI epidemic model incorporating logistic source and a general incidence rate. Differing from existing works, the system incorporates two factors: the general incidence rate and the logistic source. We first consider the well-posedness of the system. Then, utilizing the construction of four Lyapunov functions, we thoroughly examine the global asymptotic stability of equilibria in both specific and general scenarios, assuming all coefficients remain constant. In addition, we establish the basic reproduction number, denoted as R0, and subsequently derive the correlation between R0 and the local basic reproduction number. Furthermore, we provide a detailed discussion of the persistence and extinction of the infective population. In particular, in the case where R0 equals one and certain assumptions are met, we demonstrate the global asymptotic stability of the disease-free equilibrium. Lastly, we substantiate the validity of our theoretical findings through the presentation of five illustrative examples.

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following infection: a 17-year population-based cohort study

BackgroundPrevious serological studies have indicated an association between viruses and atypical pathogens and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This study aims to investigate the correlation between infections from common pathogens, including typical bacteria, and the subsequent risk of developing CFS. The analysis is based on data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database.MethodsFrom 2000 to 2017, we included a total of 395,811 cases aged 20 years or older newly diagnosed with infection. The cases were matched 1:1 with controls using a propensity score and were followed up until diagnoses of CFS were made.ResultsThe Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between infection and the subsequent risk of CFS. The incidence density rates among non-infection and infection population were 3.67 and 5.40 per 1000 person‐years, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.5, with a 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47–1.54). Patients infected with Varicella-zoster virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, Candida, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and influenza virus had a significantly higher risk of CFS than those without these pathogens (p < 0.05). Patients taking doxycycline, azithromycin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin had a significantly lower risk of CFS than patients in the corresponding control group (p < 0.05).ConclusionOur population-based retrospective cohort study found that infection with common pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, is associated with an increased risk of developing CFS.

Analysis of global stability and asymptotic properties of a Cholera model with multiple transmission routes, spatial diffusion and incomplete immunity

A novel reaction diffusion model is proposed, in this paper, to consider the impacts on the spatially heterogeneity, horizontal and environmental transmission, incomplete immunity and exposed individuals on the spread and control of Cholera. Firstly, the existence of the solution of this model, the boundedness and the existence of the global attractor are investigated. The basic reproduction number R0 of model is further defined, and then the threshold results of its global dynamics are established based on R0. In particular, we analyze the asymptotic behavior of the steady state when the diffusion rate is small or large in susceptible and exposed individuals. With the help of numerical simulations, we found that the spread of susceptible individuals does not change the spatial distribution of the disease and the local epidemic risk level during the spread of the disease in different regions, while the spread of exposed individuals has an important effect on the spatial distribution of the infected population.

Rapid, sensitive, and convenient detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection based on CRISPR and its application in detection of asymptomatic infection

Rapid and convenient detection of the Plasmodium in clinically diagnosed individuals and asymptomatically infected populations is essential for global malaria eradication, especially in malaria-endemic African countries where medical equipment and professionals are relatively deficient. Here, we described a CRISPR-based diagnostic for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest and most prevalent species of malaria parasite in Africa, via lateral flow strip readout without the need of nucleic acid extraction. The assay exhibited 100% sensitivity on clinical samples (5 P falciparum) and significant consistency with qPCR test on asymptomatic infection samples (49 P falciparum and 51 non-P. falciparum, Kappa=0.839). An artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum strain and 4 other laboratory-cultured strains can also be detected through this assay, whereas no cross-reactivity with Plasmodium vivax was observed. A 0.001% parasitaemia (corresponding to ∼60 parasites/μL) below the “low parasite density” test threshold (200 parasites/µL) is detectable. Our study demonstrated that direct malaria detection using whole blood on the spot and the detection of both clinical and asymptomatic infections of P. falciparum are feasible. This method is expected to be employed for clinical testing and large-scale community screening in Africa and possibly other places, contributing to the accurate diagnosis and control of malaria.

Challenges facing hepatitis B infected population during the COVID-19 crisis, how far are we?

Challenges facing hepatitis B infected population during the COVID-19 crisis, how far are we?

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Vaccines for COVID-19 According to Sex, Comorbidity and Socioeconomic Status: A Population Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are extremely effective in preventing severe disease, but their real-world cost effectiveness is still an open question. We present an analysis of the cost-effectiveness and economic impact of the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the Basque Country, Spain. To calculate costs and quality-adjusted life years for the entire population of the Basque Country, dynamic modelling and a real-world data analysis were combined. Data on COVID-19 infection outcomes (cases, hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions and deaths) and population characteristics (age, sex, socioeconomic status and comorbidity) during the initial phase of the vaccination rollout, from January to June of 2021, were retrieved from the Basque Health Service database. The outcomes in the alternative scenario (without vaccination) were estimated with the dynamic model used to guide public health authority policies, from February to December 2020. Individual comorbidity-adjusted life expectancy and costs were estimated. By averting severe disease-related outcomes, COVID-19 vaccination resulted in monetary savings of €26.44 million for the first semester of 2021. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €707/quality-adjusted life year considering official vaccine prices and dominant real prices. While the analysis by comorbidity showed that vaccines were considerably more cost effective in individuals with pre-existing health conditions, this benefit was lower in the low socioeconomic status group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the vaccination programme justified the policy of prioritising high-comorbidity patients. The initial phase of COVID-19 vaccination was dominant from the perspective of the healthcare payer.

Micro‒Global Positioning Systems for Identifying Nightly Opportunities for Marburg Virus Spillover to Humans by Egyptian Rousette Bats.

Marburg virus disease, caused by Marburg and Ravn orthomarburgviruses, emerges sporadically in sub-Saharan Africa and is often fatal in humans. The natural reservoir is the Egyptian rousette bat (ERB), which sheds virus in saliva, urine, and feces. Frugivorous ERBs discard test-bitten and partially eaten fruit, potentially leaving infectious virus behind that could be consumed by other susceptible animals or humans. Historically, 8 of 17 known Marburg virus disease outbreaks have been linked to human encroachment on ERB habitats, but no linkage exists for the other 9 outbreaks, raising the question of how bats and humans might intersect, leading to virus spillover. We used micro‒global positioning systems to identify nightly ERB foraging locations. ERBs from a known Marburg virus‒infected population traveled long distances to feed in cultivated fruit trees near homes. Our results show that ERB foraging behavior represents a Marburg virus spillover risk to humans and plausibly explains the origins of some past outbreaks.

Characterization of HIV-1 CRF02_AG/A3/G unique recombinant forms identified among children in Larkana, Pakistan.

Co-circulation of different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 HIV-1 subtypes among infected populations can lead to the generation of new recombinants. In Pakistan, subtype A1 and CRF02_AG are the dominant strains circulating among key populations. The high prevalence of new HIV infections among the key populations highlights the possibility of recombination between the dominant strains, which can lead to the generation of new recombinants. Here, we identified a recombinant cluster composed of CRF02_AG, sub-subtype A3, and subtype G among HIV-infected children in Larkana. For the study, 10 retrospectively collected samples, with recombination signals in the pol gene, were used to perform a near full-length genome NFLG sequencing. Of the 10 samples, NFLG was successfully sequenced from seven samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven NFLGs showed that all recombinants formed a distinct monophyletic cluster and were distinct from known HIV-1 circulating recombinant forms CRFs. Recombination analyses showed that all seven NFLGs shared a similar recombinant structure consisting of CRF02_AG, sub-subtype A3, and subtype G, with a sub-subtype A3 fragment inserted into pol and vif regions spanning from (HXB2: 4218-5518), and a subtype G fragment inserted into vpu, rev, tat and env regions spanning from (HXB2: 5957-8250) of the CRF02_AG backbone. The identification of unique recombinant forms may indicate the presence and transmission of several co-circulating lineages in Larkana, giving rise to newer CRFs. This study also highlights the importance of continuous molecular surveillance to fully understand HIV-1 genetic diversity in Pakistan, particularly in Larkana, which is the epicenter of HIV outbreaks.

Curtailing the spread of typhoid fever: An optimal control approach

In this paper, a deterministic compartmental model for the control of typhoid fever, which takes into account a partially effective vaccine and drug resistance effect was proposed. We incorporated five control strategies which consist of mass public health education, vaccination, treatment, second-line of treatment, and protection or environmental sanitation to curtail the spread of the disease in the population. The model consists of eight (8) compartments that include: Vaccinated population, susceptible population, exposed population, asymptomatic infected human population, symptomatic infected human population, resistant human population, treated human population, and the bacterial population. We developed a non-linear differential equation to study the dynamics of the model. We computed the basic reproduction number for a case of constant control which can be used to control the transmission dynamics of the disease and proved the local and global stability of the disease-free equilibrium, the result of stability analysis revealed that the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) is locally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is less than one (1) using Routh–Hurwitz Criterion (RHC) and globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number is less than one through the method of Castillo-Chavez. The stability analysis of the disease-free equilibrium result indicates that typhoid can be completely wiped out if the average number of secondary infection is kept at a number less than unity. We carry out sensitivity analyses on the reproduction number to ascertain the parameters that affect the reproduction number. Based on the results, an optimal control problem was formulated and analyzed using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle (PMP) to determine the optimality system. We solved the optimality system using the forward and backward sweep method and the results revealed that the combination of vaccination, public health education, treatment, the second line of treatment, and environmental sanitation is the best strategy for controlling the spread of the disease.

Robust Observer-Based Parameter Identification and State Estimation for COVID-19 Modeling: Analyzing the Omicron Variant in Mexico using Fractional-Order SIR and SEIR Models

This work presents a robust observer-based approach for parameter identification and state estimation in fractional-order SIR and SEIR models, applied to analyze the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Mexico from December 26, 2021, to March 26, 2022. By utilizing measurements of changes in the infected population, a robust observer is proposed to reconstruct the transmission rate within the fractional model. The method accounts for noisy measurement cases and incorporates parametric reconstruction and state observation. The proposed approach is demonstrated through numerical results, showcasing its capabilities in effectively estimating parameters and states. The findings of this study have implications for formulating strategies to prevent, slow, and halt the spread of infectious diseases, offering valuable insights for combating future disease outbreaks.

Linking within- and between-host scales for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of quantitative antimicrobial resistance

Understanding both the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of antimicrobial resistance is a major public health concern. In this paper, we propose a nested model, explicitly linking the within- and between-host scales, in which the level of resistance of the bacterial population is viewed as a continuous quantitative trait. The within-host dynamics is based on integro-differential equations structured by the resistance level, while the between-host scale is additionally structured by the time since infection. This model simultaneously captures the dynamics of the bacteria population, the evolutionary transient dynamics which lead to the emergence of resistance, and the epidemic dynamics of the host population. Moreover, we precisely analyze the model proposed by particularly performing the uniform persistence and global asymptotic results. Finally, we discuss the impact of the treatment rate of the host population in controlling both the epidemic outbreak and the average level of resistance, either if the within-host scale therapy is a success or failure. We also explore how transitions between infected populations (treated and untreated) can impact the average level of resistance, particularly in a scenario where the treatment is successful at the within-host scale.

Virally encoded interleukin-6 facilitates KSHV replication in monocytes and induction of dysfunctional macrophages.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic double-stranded DNA virus and the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and hyperinflammatory lymphoproliferative disorders. Understanding the mechanism by which KSHV increases the infected cell population is crucial for curing KSHV-associated diseases. Using scRNA-seq, we demonstrate that KSHV preferentially infects CD14+ monocytes, sustains viral lytic replication through the viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6), which activates STAT1 and 3, and induces an inflammatory gene expression program. To study the role of vIL-6 in monocytes upon KSHV infection, we generated recombinant KSHV with premature stop codon (vIL-6(-)) and its revertant viruses (vIL-6(+)). Infection of the recombinant viruses shows that both vIL-6(+) and vIL-6(-) KSHV infection induced indistinguishable host anti-viral response with STAT1 and 3 activations in monocytes; however, vIL-6(+), but not vIL-6(-), KSHV infection promoted the proliferation and differentiation of KSHV-infected monocytes into macrophages. The macrophages derived from vIL-6(+) KSHV infection showed a distinct transcriptional profile of elevated IFN-pathway activation with immune suppression and were compromised in T-cell stimulation function compared to those from vIL-6(-) KSHV infection or uninfected control. Notably, a viral nuclear long noncoding RNA (PAN RNA), which is required for sustaining KSHV gene expression, was substantially reduced in infected primary monocytes upon vIL-6(-) KSHV infection. These results highlight the critical role of vIL-6 in sustaining KSHV transcription in primary monocytes. Our findings also imply a clever strategy in which KSHV utilizes vIL-6 to secure its viral pool by expanding infected monocytes via differentiating into longer-lived dysfunctional macrophages. This mechanism may facilitate KSHV to escape from host immune surveillance and to support a lifelong infection.

Features of the epidemic process in the spread of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 on the territory of the metropolitan area in the period 2020–2022

Introduction Conducting a comprehensive epidemiological etiological analysis of the development of the СОVID-19 pandemic in a metropolitan area is of interest to specialists of didderent profiles (epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, pediatricians, therapists, immunologists, virologists). An important element of epidemiological surveillance is the assessment of collective immunity to infectious agents, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The natural ability of viruses to variability leads to the emergence of new types and strains. Currently, a number of mutations and polymorphisms have been identified that affect the structure and stability of proteins, factors of susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, pathogenicity and virulence of the virus, and the ability to “elude” the immune response of the host organism.The aim of the work was to assess evaluate the character of the epidemic process development of a new coronavirus infection on the territory of the metropolitan area in the period 2020–2022.Materials and methods A total of 331,013 people were examined by PCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. Specific IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in serum were detected by ELISA in 42,955 people. Genetic variants of the virus were typed (by PCR and sequencing).Results During the entire follow-up period, the highest percentage of “positive for Covid-19” was observed in February 2022 (58.9 %) and September 2022 (46.8 %). Among the total number of patients examined (n = 331,013), adult patients accounted for the largest proportion, – 83.9 %, children – 16.1 %. The proportion of individuals with specific IgG to SARSCoV-2 in 2020–2021 ranged from 53.3–82.6 %.Discussion In 2020–2022, there was an increase in the proportion of individuals with detectable RNA virus. The greatest infection was observed in the age groups 19–27 years and 28–65 years. It was found that the linear dependence of the increase in the specific weight of seropositive persons with respect to IgG among the residents of Ekaterinburg has a progressive trend, the approximation reliability coefficient R2 corresponds to 0.8172. In samples of patients examined in April–August 2022, markers of the genetic variant Omicron were detected in 96.9 % of cases. The increase in the structure of infected pediatric population (almost twofold over 2020–2022 years) is probably caused by the adaptation of the pathogen to a new susceptible cohort of people.Conclusion The dynamics of the number of people examined and the proprtion of detectability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Ekaterinburg during the entire period of the pandemic (March 2020–December 2022) had a wave-like character. By the end of 2022, the level of seropositive individuals in all age groups increased significantly, which confirms the presence of collective immunity in the territory.

The analysis of deterministic and stochastic SIM model with general information intervention

In this paper, we propose an epidemic model with the impact of information intervention and general incidence rate in deterministic and stochastic environment, respectively. The information intervention prompts susceptible individuals to change their behavior to protect themselves from infection. First, the asymptotic dynamics of the disease-free equilibrium and the unique endemic equilibrium are analyzed and the results indicate that the basic reproduction number is a pointy disease threshold about the stability under some conditions. Then, we formulate the corresponding stochastic model by perturbing the disease transmission rate and information response rate parameters by white noise terms and provide verifiable sufficient conditions for extinction and persistence in mean. Two sufficient conditions for extinction show that if the noise intensity of the disease transmission rate is large enough or small enough, the infected population of the stochastic system will tend to go extinct. For the persistence, we get the sufficient conditions which guarantee the infected population to be persistent in the mean. Finally, we perform some numerical simulations to compare the dynamic behaviors of the deterministic and the stochastic system.

Mathematical modelling of the impact of poverty on cholera outbreaks

In this paper, we propose and analyze a coupled disease‐economic model to study the impact of poverty on cholera outbreaks. We consider the stock of capital per effective units of labor, reflecting the effect of the stock of capital on cholera outbreak and transmission. The system has positive bounded solutions. We show that the disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable whenever , while when , the disease‐free equilibrium is unstable. The sensitivity analysis of the model has been performed in order to determine the impact of related parameters on outbreak severity. We further study various cases for the investment rate upon critical value of the investment in order to describe the effect of poverty on the infected individuals over time. The results we obtained show that increasing of the stock of capital per effective units of labor and the implementation of strategies combining awareness programs and therapeutic treatments will reduce the proportion of the infected population. To verify our analytical results, the numerical simulations on the model are performed.

Characterizing a Silver Nanoparticle-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Shiga Toxin Detection.

Shiga toxins (1, 2) regularly cause outbreaks and food recalls and pose a significant health risk to the infected population. Therefore, new reliable tools are needed to rapidly detect Shiga toxin cost-effectively in food, water, and wastewater before human consumption. Enzyme immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction approaches are the gold standard detection methods for the Shiga toxin. However, these methods require expensive instruments along with expensive reagents, which makes them hard to convert into point-of-use and low-cost systems. This study introduces an electrochemical biosensing method that utilizes silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as electrochemical tags and commercially available low-cost screen-printed carbon electrodes for detection. This study introduces the modification of reference electrodes on commercially available screen-printed carbon electrodes to detect AgNPs dissolved in nitric acid. This biosensor achieved a 2 ng/mL lowest measured concentration for Shiga toxin-1 in less than 3 h. These biosensor results also showed that the AgNP-based sensor has better linearity (for graph between peak current vs concentration) and lower standard deviation compared to gold nanoparticles (AuNP)-based electrochemical biosensors.

Diet of the sylvatic triatomine Mepraia spinolai: Association with Trypanosoma cruzi infection near human settlements

The proximity between infectious disease vector populations and human settlements, and the infection prevalence of vector populations can determine the rate of encounters between vectors and humans and hence infection risk. The diet of sylvatic triatomine vectors (kissing bugs) provides evidence about the host species involved in the maintenance of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Here, we characterized the diet of the Chilean endemic triatomine Mepraia spinolai using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), and evaluated the relation between T. cruzi infection status and proximity to human settlements, with the proportion of human and human-associated (domestic and synanthropic) vertebrates in the diet. We sampled 28 M. spinolai populations, covering a latitudinal range of ∼800 km in Chile. For each population, genomic DNA was obtained from M. spinolai intestinal content. We assessed T. cruzi infection individually, and sequenced vertebrate cytochrome b to characterize the diet from infected and uninfected pooled samples. Human and human-associated animals were present in the diet of both T. cruzi-infected (13.50 %) and uninfected (10.43 %) kissing bugs. The proportion of human and human-associated vertebrates in the diet of infected M. spinolai was negatively associated with the distance from surrounding human settlements, but no relationship was detected for uninfected kissing bugs. This pattern could be related to alterations of kissing bug feeding behavior when infected by the protozoan. Our results highlight the relevance of developing a deeper knowledge of the wild transmission cycle of T. cruzi, thus advancing in the surveillance of vectors present in the natural environment near human settlements.