Chagas disease is the most serious parasitic disease and a leading cause of heart disease in Latin America. It has been difficult to control in Central America and Mexico since the main species of insect that spreads the parasite, Triatoma dimidiata, is found in forests and as well as areas surrounding houses and readily re-colonizes houses after fumigation. In addition, although T. dimidiata specimens look similar across their geographic range, preliminary data suggest the species may include distinct taxa. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the influence of environmental and genetic interactions on the transmission of Chagas disease. As the first step, the taxonomic status of Triatoma dimidiata populations, the main Chagas disease vector in Central America, will be determined. Taxonomic diversity can manifest itself and affect disease transmission in several ways. We focus on understanding the degree of morphological variation;diversity in the sequence and organization of DNA in chromosomes;and epidemiological differentiation (blood source, T. cruzi infection, preferred habitat) among T. dimidiata populations from distinct geographical localities and across a range of ecological habitats. The results of this research will indicate the dividing lines among genetically distinct taxa, and will identify the taxa most likely to transmit Chagas to humans. As one of our collaborators works closely with the Guatemalan Ministry of Health and the WHO Central American Initiative against Chagas disease, the information obtained will be put immediately to use into the control efforts. In addition, through this work we will train undergraduate students from the U.S. and endemic countries to enhance the scientific workforce needed by the public sector, academia and industry.

Public Health Relevance

Chagas disease is a leading cause of heart disease and the most serious parasitic disease in Latin America. To help halt transmission of this disease, we will study the genetics of the main insect vector that transmits Chagas in Central America. This will allow us to identify which populations of insects are responsible for most of the Chagas transmission in this region and develop control efforts targeting these insects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15)
Project #
3R15AI079672-01A1S1
Application #
7916029
Study Section
Vector Biology Study Section (VB)
Program Officer
Costero, Adriana
Project Start
2009-09-26
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-26
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$13,618
Indirect Cost
Name
Loyola University in New Orleans
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
008203309
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70118
Dorn, Patricia L; de la Rúa, Nicholas M; Axen, Heather et al. (2016) Hypothesis testing clarifies the systematics of the main Central American Chagas disease vector, Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811), across its geographic range. Infect Genet Evol 44:431-443
Stevens, Lori; Monroy, M Carlota; Rodas, Antonieta Guadalupe et al. (2015) Migration and Gene Flow Among Domestic Populations of the Chagas Insect Vector Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Detected by Microsatellite Loci. J Med Entomol 52:419-28
Klotz, Stephen A; Schmidt, Justin O; Dorn, Patricia L et al. (2014) Free-roaming kissing bugs, vectors of Chagas disease, feed often on humans in the Southwest. Am J Med 127:421-6
de la Rúa, Nicholas M; Bustamante, Dulce M; Menes, Marianela et al. (2014) Towards a phylogenetic approach to the composition of species complexes in the North and Central American Triatoma, vectors of Chagas disease. Infect Genet Evol 24:157-66
García, Mauricio; Menes, Marianela; Dorn, Patricia L et al. (2013) Reproductive isolation revealed in preliminary crossbreeding experiments using field collected Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from three ITS-2 defined groups. Acta Trop 128:714-8
Stevens, Lori; Dorn, Patricia L; Hobson, Julia et al. (2012) Vector blood meals and Chagas disease transmission potential, United States. Emerg Infect Dis 18:646-9
Dorn, Patricia L; Daigle, Megan E; Combe, Crescent L et al. (2012) Low prevalence of Chagas parasite infection in a nonhuman primate colony in Louisiana. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 51:443-7
Panzera, Y; Pita, S; Ferreiro, M J et al. (2012) High dynamics of rDNA cluster location in kissing bug holocentric chromosomes (Triatominae, Heteroptera). Cytogenet Genome Res 138:56-67
Gourbiere, S; Dorn, P; Tripet, F et al. (2012) Genetics and evolution of triatomines: from phylogeny to vector control. Heredity (Edinb) 108:190-202
Cesa, K; Caillouët, K A; Dorn, P L et al. (2011) High Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) prevalence in Triatoma sanguisuga (Hemiptera: Redviidae) in southeastern Louisiana. J Med Entomol 48:1091-4

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