Intra-Domiciliary Transmission of Chagas’ Disease in Rural Areas of Yucatan Mexico

Eugenia Guzman-Marin¹, Karla Y. Acosta-Viana¹, Marylin Puerto-Solís¹, Antonio Ortega-Pacheco², Matilde Jimenez-Coello¹

¹Cuerpo Académico de Biomedicina de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, CIR “Dr Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Mexico.
²Cuerpo Académico de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, México.

DOI: 10.4236/ojepi.2016.64024                

Abstract

With the objective to describe the relationship between T. cruzi infection in humans and sinantropic reservoir and vectors in the rural conditions a study was performed in municipalities of the Yucatan state in Mexico. Blood samples from humans, dogs and opossum were taken from the households. Vectors were also collected and the infection and infestation indexes were calculated. Serum samples were evaluated by indirect hemagglutination (IH) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) to determine IgG antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also performed in the samples taken from humans and reservoirs. Blood smears were performed in reservoirs. Sampled humans underwent to an electrocardiographic study to identify functional and conduction alterations of the heart. Household building characteristics were noted. A total of 367 blood samples were collected from people. The presence of IgG antibodies was 16.6% and 71.0% at PCR. Electrocardiographic studies revealed that 31% of patients seropositive to T. cruzi have a medical condition. 20.0% of dogs were seropositive and 68.5 positive to PCR. At the direct detection 13.6% resulted positive. In opossum 29.1% were seropositive and 72.9% positive to PCR. A total of 269 triatomineos were captured and 52.7% were infected with T. cruzi. The infection and infestation index were 52.4% and 60.8% respectively. The presence of adult vectors and their nymph’s were more frequently found in households made with wattle roofs (45.2 and 73.9 % respectively) than other kind of building materials. Electrocardiographic abnormalities found in positive persons were: Incomplete right bundle branch block (55%), tachycardia (35%), old myocardial infarction (5%) and incomplete block of the left bundle (5%). This work highlights the importance of comprehensive studies on the transmission of T. cruzi in the Yucatan where the link between human infection in synanthropic reservoirs and vectors is established. This information is important to design programs for the epidemiological surveillance and control to break the chain of transmission of the disease.

Keywords

Trypanosoma cruzi, Vectors, Serology, PCR, Zoonosis.

1. Introduction

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study Area and Sampled Population

The study was performed in the Yucatan State of Mexico (20˚50'00''N 89˚00'00''O.). A random two-stage sampling was performed, where first randomly selected 7 municipalities out of 106 municipalities in the state of Yucatan (Valladolid [20˚41'22''N 88˚12'06''O], Peto [20˚07'32''N 88˚55'17''O], Tekantó [21˚00'50''N 89˚04'50''O], Cuzama [20˚44'00''N 89˚18'00''O], Tixkokob [21˚00'08''N 89˚23'37''O], Merida [20˚58'04''N 89˚37'18''O] and Hunucma [21˚10'00''N 90˚02'00''O]) [19] . Subsequently 2 locations in each municipality were chosen, and then the houses were selected based on the number of streets, trying to cover during sampling to the four cardinal points of each locality. From each municipality 110 households from two locations were selected by a random multistep sampling. In Merida 10 locations were included considering is the capital city and a higher number of households exist. Five household were visited from every selected location and all inhabitants which accepted to participate and potential mammal reservoirs (dog and opossum) were sampled. Triatomines found within the households and around them in a radio of 100 m were collected. Household building characteristics were recorded. Only persons, who were present in the house at the time of the visits and agreed to participate, were included in the sampling. All participants were adults (>18 - 60 years old). Participants were explained the purpose and procedures of the study and sign a letter of informed consent to be included in the study. All research activities were previously approved and supervised by a registered bioethical committee from Autonomous University of Yucatan.

2.2. Processing of Samples in Humans

A blood capillary simple was taken from every inhabitant for serum for serological detection of the agent by mean of indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and blood were taken in vacutainer tubes with anticoagulant (EDTA) for genomic DNA purification (DNA blood and tissue Kit, Qiagen).

The indirect Hemagglutination test (IHA, Chagatest, Wiener Laboratory) was performed following the manufacturer features. Positive and negative controls were used in each round of tested samples (previously validated and included in the commercial diagnostic kit). A sample was considered as positive beside 1:32 dilution reaction. For IFI, a suspension of epimastigotes of H4strain was placed on a slide, fixed parasites, and sera from volunteers and controls were diluted 1:32 in PBS and incubated for 30 minutes in humid chamber. Subsequently, the slides were washed and incubated with the second anti-human IgG antibody conjugated to fluorescein (F4512, Sigma Aldrich) 1:20 dilution for 30 minutes at 37 C. After incubation, the slides were observed in a fluorescence microscope. The presence of a green fluorescence on parasites was considered a positive test. Positive samples were marked with a +/+++ according to the degree of fluorescence observed, using as reference a positive control [20] ).Genomic DNA from all collected samples were purified (DNA blood and tissue Kit, Qiagen) and evaluated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (end point) using as primers oligonucleotids derived from the kinetoplast (KNS1 and KNS2) as previously described by Molina-Garza et al., [21] .

Electrocardiographic Studies

To all the volunteers were performed an electrocardiogram. The electrocardiograph device Cardiovit AT-10 plus (12 channels) was used. Twelve leads were obtained to identify functional and conduction alterations of the heart. The electrocardiograms were analyzed by three cardiologists to determine a diagnosis; special care was placed on rhythm, conduction, and isquemia findings.

2.3. Processing of Samples in Reservoirs

All animals (domestic and peridomestic) found in each studied household at the moment of visit were immobilized and sampled to obtain blood and serum. The sample included only the synanthropic domestic animal: dog (Canis familiaris) and synanthropic non domestic animal: opposums (Didelphis marsupialis). Blood collected were processed for direct observation under microscopy (using the stain May Grunwald) and serum was separated by centrifugation at 1200 g for 10 minutes and aliquoted into eppendorf tubes and frozen at −20˚C until use. Serological test in dogs were performed as previously described by Lauricella et al., [22] and Gurtler et al., [10] for IHA and Jimenez-Coello et al., for IFI [23] . Genomic DNA from all collected samples was purified (DNA blood and tissue Kit, Qiagen). The PCR assay was used to evaluate the parasite DNA detection in dogs and opossums following the conditions reported by Molina-Garza et al., [21] .

Opossums were capture using Tomahawk traps. Four traps were leave for each household during 48 hr and traps were revised daily (2 times). As bait for traps, portions of chopped fruit of the region were used. Captured animals were sedated and blood sampled. Blood smears were processed for direct detection of the agent by microscopy (adding May Grunwald stain). Serological test in oppossums were performed as previously described by Villagran et al., [24] for IHA and Jansen et al., (1985) [25] for IFI. Genomic DNA from all collected samples were obtained using the DNA blood and tissue Kit, Qiagen and PCR assay was performed in opossums following the conditions described by Molina-Garza et al. [21] .

2.4. Processing of Samples in Vectors

All triatomines captured inside or around the household were studied, to achieve that, a search was conducted using simple hand lanterns inside the house. Each specimen collected was placed in containers for transport, subsequent taxonomic identification and further analysis by direct microscopy and inoculation to mice, with the purpose to isolate T. cruzi. From every specimen fecal content from the intestine was obtained; one part of the content was used for direct detection by microscopy, after diluting the sample in saline solution (0.85%) and EDTA (0.05%) and stained with May Grunwald. Genomic DNA from intestinal content (200 ul of sterile saline solution injected and removed with a syringe to the abdominal region of each parasite) were purified using the DNA blood and tissue Kit, (Qiagen) and PCR endpoint assay was performed with DNA from opossums following the conditions described by Molina-Garza et al., (2007) [19] using 4 ul (at a concentration around ~10 ng/ul) of purified DNA as template.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The frequency of seropositive (IFI) and PCR positive cases was determined in humans and reservoirs. In vectors, the infection and infestation index was determined according to the methodology reported (27).

Infection index = No. of positive triatomines × 100/number of examined triatomines

Infestation index = No. of positive rooms to triatomines × 100/number of visited households

3. Results

3.1. Humans

A total of 367 blood samples were collected from the inhabitants of the 125 visited households. The presence of IgG antibodies was observed in 11.2% and 19.9% for IH and IFI respectively, corresponding to a general mean of 16.6%. The PCR for those seropositive samples showed 71.0% of positive cases (Table 1). Electrocardiographic studies revealed that 31% of patients seropositive to T. cruzi (n = 61 cases positive by IHA and IFI), have a medical condition including incomplete right bundle branch block (n = 11, 55%), tachycardia (n = 7, 35%), old myocardial infarction (n = 1, 5%), Chagoma and incomplete block of the left bundle (n = 1, 5%). Fifteen of the persons with an electrocardiographic alteration live with dogs.

Table 1. Frequency of positive cases for by IH, IFI and PCR in humans, dogs and opossums.

3.2. Dogs

A total of 72 dogs were sampled; from those, 22.3% and 26.7% were IgG positive to IH and IFI respectively, a general mean of 20.0%. At the direct detection 13.6% resulted positive. Seropositive samples were evaluated by PCR resulting in 68.5% of positive cases (Table 1).

3.3. Opossums

From the 79 captured opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 27.9% and 32.9% were IgG positive to IH and IFI respectively and a mean of 29.1% for both techniques whereas 30.7% were positive at direct detection. By PCR, in 72.9% of analyzed samples, DNA of T. cruzi was found (Table 1).

3.4. Vectors

A total of 269 triatomines were captured from 76 visited households (60.8%); all of them were from the genus Triatoma, species dimidiata. From all triatomineos 141 (52.7%) were infected with T. cruzi. The infection and infestation index were 52.4% and 60.8% respectively.

Households Building Characteristics

From the 125 surveyed households, 36 were made of masonry with a tin roof and cement floor (28.8%), 37 had a tin roof and brick floor (29.6%) and 52 were made of wattle roof straw and topsoil floor (41.6%). The presence of adult vectors ad their nymph’s were more frequently found in households made with wattle roofs (45.2%) than in other kind of building (Table 2). In the homes of wattle roof straw with topsoil floors there was a higher risk for the presence of triatomines and thus facilitates the man-vector contact transmission of T. cruzi (Table 2). Thirteen persons with electrocardiographic abnormalities were living in wattle roof straw household s and 2 in masonry houses with tin roof, all of them serologically positive and PCR positive. Likewise, from the total infected persons with T. cruzi, 108 (62%) were living in wattle roof straw and topsoil floors whereas 66 (38%) were living in masonry houses. Regarding contact with reservoirs 38 (21.8%) had coexistence positive dogs; 49 (28.1%) lived in households where infected possums were captured. In total 50% of positive people were livings with an infected reservoir. The analysis to establish the relationship between the characteristics

Table 2. Household characteristics and presence of vectors (adults & nymph’s).

of the houses and the presence of triatomines was performed with Chi-square, showing an association between each variable (p < 0.03) and the odds ratio was 4.78 for the houses of wattle and daub roof adjusted straw and floor and 3.57 for masonry houses with tin roof, which establishes that there is greater risk in housing wattle and daub for triatomine infestation.

4. Discussion

The state of Yucatan is recognized as an endemic area for American trypanosomiasis, because since 1937 the presence of infected vectors and their home was reported. Furthermore, we have identified several human cases and reservoirs in the state. In this research, active transmission of T. cruzi is shown in homes where mainly people and dogs that stay at home cohabit. These results are in agreement with many other reports where the dog is recognized as an important risk factor for the domestic transmission of T. cruzi and it is therefore necessary to carry out immediate preventive measures to interrupt vector T. cruzi intra-domiciliary transmission, as well as active epidemiologic surveillance programs throughout Mexico and implementation of vector control strategies in disease-endemic areas. [26] [27] .

The standard of living in communities studied is low and houses are commonly built of natural materials, also, the original vegetation in this region has been partially destroyed by farming activities, however there are also a lot of empty areas with vegetation used as a Natural ecotope of Triatominae between each house. Is common that insects being of forest habitat penetrate the domestic habitat and increase the probability of transmission to peridomestic animals feed mainly dogs, rats, opossums and human blood [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] Other rate of infection Index in Yucatan Peninsula (in one rural community from Campeche state) has been reported, it was of 38% [17] just a little lower than 52% rate we found in this study. Rural communities from Campeche and Yucatan share many ambient conditions, genetics (as in humans as vectors/mammal) and customs from Mayan culture due the proximity. Also shares low income, homes characteristics and families possess high number of domestic animals, without any type of vectorial control measure in the area. For these reasons in this part from southeast of Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) Chagas disease is and persist well stablished and people living there have an important risk to become infected as in a rural or urban areas.

Dogs are common pets in rural areas and according to our results, they do not sleep inside the house, however, the proximity of these human favors the probability that they are considered as potential sources of infection. Domestic cats are also considered reservoirs for Chagas disease [31] , but are less common than dogs in communities. Therefore dogs can occasionally serve as power source vectors are around housing [32] [33] [34] [35] . Similar events occur in different endemic areas of the disease, among which are e.g. Panama and Mexico [10] [28] [34] . Within Mexico, and specifically in Yucatan where the local vector is well identified as intradomiciliary and considering the high infection in the canine population found in our studio (20%), dogs represent an important reservoir for domestic peridomestic transmission T. cruzi. For example in Argentina, bug infection rates showed an increasing trend with the number of seroreactive dogs and an inverse association with the age of the youngest seroreactive dog [10] Also, dogs have also been described as effective sentinels and reservoirs transmission mediated wild triatomines, as these animals can become more easily infected orally (T. cruzi) or by the bite of triatomine before transmission established in the population [35] .

Dogs, like humans, developed acute and chronic disease American trypanosomiasis phases, which may be considered to be use as a good model for studies related to experimental pathology [36] [37] [38] . High incidence of infection and infectiousness in dogs and cats combined with suitable exposure patterns to domestic bugs make them primary reservoir hosts and sources of T. cruzi infection for householders. A prudent policy to recommend to householders of endemic rural areas is the permanent removal of dogs and cats as well as chickens from bedroom areas [10] .

By other hand, infection rate registered in opossum in our study is higher (comparing the PCR results) than previously reported in Didelphis spp. from Yucatan [39] . Our findings also were higher than other reports in southern Mexico (Chiapas), where the seroprevalence in this sylvatic mammal was of 16.6% [40] and from the western area of Mexico where a seroprevalence of 24% was reported [41] . Manuscripts indicate than opossum play a key role in the persistence of T. cruzi and may be also important agent for the transmission of the disease to humans because of their abundance, the ability to maintain the agent and their proximity with peridomestic and intradomiciliary triatomine bugs when opossums go to houses searching for food. The relevance of this specie is that the developmental cycle of trypomastigote-epimastigote-metacyclic infective trypomastigote, (which usually occurs in the intestine of the triatomine vector), it could take place in the anal odoriferous glands of the opossums, for that reason excreta of opossums may thus transmit T. cruzi by contamination, even in areas where insect vectors are not present [42] .

5. Conclusion

This work highlights the importance of comprehensive studies on the transmission of T. cruzi in the Yucatan where the link between human infection in synanthropic reservoirs and vectors is established. This information is important to design programs for the epidemiological surveillance and control to break the chain of transmission of the disease.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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