Ecologic niche modeling and genetic structure of Triatoma sherlocki (Triatominae: Hemiptera) in the Bahia State, Brazil: eco-epidemiologic implications

• Grant number: 11/22378-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: João Aristeu da Rosa
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo de Almeida
• Supervisor: A. Townsend Peterson
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Kansas, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/17027-0 - Ecological niche modeling and genetic structure of Triatoma sherlocki (Triatominae: Hemiptera) in Bahia state, Brazil: eco-epidemiological implications, BP.PD

Abstract

Chagas disease is caused by the flagellate protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, and is transmitted to humans mainly byblood-sucking bugs (subfamily Triatominae). There is no cure for the acute phase of this disease, and vector transmission is the main mode of infection in Brazil, so most remediation efforts focus on interrupting natural vectorial transmission by controlling domiciliated vectors with pyrethroid insecticides. However, after the successful T. infestans control programme other triatomines, previously considered predominately sylvatic, have emerged as potential vectors in several areas of Brazil. The occurrence of Triatoma sherlocki in domiciles of a mining village (Encantado) in Gentio do Ouro, Bahia, Brazil, has been recently confirmed (Almeida et al. Med Vet Entomol. 2009 23:410-7) where this species exhibited index of domiciliary colonization similar to the ones recorded for triatomines recognized as potential vectors of Chagas disease. However, in its type locality (Santo Inácio, Bahia Brazil), this species remains sylvatic. In light of its possible domiciliation, simple ecological/geographic approaches will be applied to predict other sites of possible occurrence based on ecological similarity and geographic proximity to the known points of occurrence, via System of Geographic Information (GIS), which has previously offered well succeed predictions of occurrence for this species (Almeida et al. 2009). New searches in the predicted spots will be performed, aiming to detect new domiciliary foci of colonization. Following this, Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) will be applied and insects collected in the field will be used for molecular studies (microsatellites), aiming to recognize the ecological and genetic structure of T. sherlocki in sites where this species is collected in domilcies and where it is strictly wild. Therefore, throughout a approach that integrates georeferencing (GIS and ENM) and molecular tools it will be possible to evaluate whether the scenario explored herein represents an isolated case or an emerging public health problem for northeastern Brazil in ares of recent human settlements. (AU)

Scientific publications

(10)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COSTA, JANE; BARGUES, MARIA DOLORES; NEIVA, VANESSA LIMA; LAWRENCE, GENA G.; GUMIEL, MARCIA; OLIVEIRA, GENOVA; CABELLO, PEDRO; LIMA, MARLI MARIA; DOTSON, ELLEN; PROVANCE, JR., DAVID WILLIAM; et al. Phenotypic variability confirmed by nuclear ribosomal DNA suggests a possible natural hybrid zone of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, v. 37, p. 77-87, JAN 2016. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

CARVALHO, DANILA B.; ALMEIDA, CARLOS E.; ROCHA, CLAUDIA S.; GARDIM, SUELI; MENDONCA, VAGNER J.; RIBEIRO, ALINE R.; ALVES, ZULIMAR C. P. V. T.; RUELLAS, KELLEM T.; VEDOVELI, ALAN; DA ROSA, JOAO A.. A novel association between Rhodnius neglectus and the Livistona australis palm tree in an urban center foreshadowing the risk of Chagas disease transmission by vectorial invasions in Monte Alto City, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Acta Tropica, v. 130, p. 35-38, FEB 2014. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

COSTA, JANE; DORNAK, L. LYNNETTE; ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO; PETERSON, A. TOWNSEND. Distributional potential of the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex at present and under scenarios of future climate conditions. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 7, MAY 22 2014. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

CORREIA, NATHALIA; ALMEIDA, CARLOS E.; LIMA-NEIVA, VANESSA; GUMIEL, MARCIA; DORNAK, L. LYNNETTE; LIMA, MARLI M.; MEDEIROS, LIVIA M. O.; MENDONCA, VAGNER J.; DA ROSA, JOAO A.; COSTA, JANE. Cross-mating experiments detect reproductive compatibility between Triatoma sherlocki and other members of the Triatorna brasiliensis species complex. Acta Tropica, v. 128, n. 1, p. 162-167, OCT 2013. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

TEVES, SIMONE CALDAS; GARDIM, SUELI; CARBAJAL DE LA FUENTE, ANA LAURA; LOPES, CATARINA MACEDO; MONTE GONCALVES, TERESA CRISTINA; DOS SANTOS MALLET, JACENIR REIS; DA ROSA, JOAO ARISTEU; ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO. Mitochondrial Genes Reveal Triatoma jatai as a Sister Species to Triatoma costalimai (Reduviidae: Triatominae). American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 94, n. 3, p. 686-688, MAR 2016. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO; FAUCHER, LESLIE; LAVINA, MORGANE; COSTA, JANE; HARRY, MYRIAM. Molecular Individual-Based Approach on Triatoma brasiliensis: Inferences on Triatomine Foci, Trypanosoma cruzi Natural Infection Prevalence, Parasite Diversity and Feeding Sources. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 10, n. 2, FEB 2016. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

MARCHANT, AXELLE; MOUGEL, FLORENCE; JACQUIN-JOLY, EMMANUELLE; COSTA, JANE; ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO; HARRY, MYRIAM. Under-Expression of Chemosensory Genes in Domiciliary Bugs of the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma brasiliensis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 10, n. 10, OCT 2016. (10/17027-0, 11/22378-0, 16/08176-9)

VALENCA-BARBOSA, CAROLINA; FERNANDES, FABIANO ARAUJ; CARNEIRO SANTOS, HELENA LUCIA; SARQUIS, OTILIA; HARRY, MYRIAM; ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO; LIMA, MARLI MARIA. Molecular Identification of Food Sources in Triatomines in the Brazilian Northeast: Roles of Goats and Rodents in Chagas Disease Epidemiology. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 93, n. 5, p. 994-997, NOV 2015. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

GARDIM, SUELI; ROCHA, CLAUDIA S.; ALMEIDA, CARLOS E.; TAKIYA, DANIELA M.; DA SILVA, MARCO T. A.; AMBROSIO, DANIELA L.; CICARELLI, REGINA M. B.; DA ROSA, JOAO A.. Evolutionary Relationships of the Triatoma matogrossensis Subcomplex, the Endemic Triatoma in Central-Western Brazil, Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 89, n. 4, p. 766-774, OCT 2013. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)

FOLLY-RAMOS, ELAINE; DORNAK, L. LYNNETTE; ORSOLON, GUILHERME; MONTE GONCALVES, TERESA CRISTINA; LILIOSO, MAURICIO; COSTA, JANE; ALMEIDA, CARLOS EDUARDO. Vector capacity of members of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex: The need to extend Chagas disease surveillance to Triatoma melanica. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY, v. 41, n. 1, p. 48-54, JUN 2016. (11/22378-0, 10/17027-0)