Effects of mammal host diversity and density on the infection level of Trypanosoma cruzi in sylvatic kissing bugs.
Med Vet Entomol
; 28(4): 384-90, 2014 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24844934
Several reports have described host species diversity and identity as the most important factors influencing disease risk, producing either dilution or amplification of the pathogen in a host community. Triatomine vectors, mammals and the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) Chagas are involved in the wild cycle of Chagas disease, in which infection of mammals occurs by contamination of mucous membranes or skin abrasions with insect-infected faeces. We examined the extent to which host diversity and identity determine the infection level observed in vector populations (i.e. disease risk in humans). We recorded infection in triatomine colonies and on the coexisting host mammalian species in semi-arid Chile. Host diversity, and total and infected host species densities are used as predictor variables for disease risk. Disease risk did not correlate with host diversity changes. However, the densities of each infected rodent species were positively associated with disease risk. We suggest that the infected host density surrounding the vector colonies is a relevant variable for disease risk and should be considered to understand disease dynamics. It is crucial to pay attention on the spatial scale of analysis, considering the pattern of vector dispersal, when the relationship between host diversity and disease risk is studied.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rodentia
/
Trypanosoma cruzi
/
Triatominae
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Chile
Language:
En
Journal:
Med Vet Entomol
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile
Country of publication:
United kingdom