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. 2012;6(6):e1707.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001707. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

Geographical distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes in Venezuela

Hernán J Carrasco  1 , Maikell Segovia, Martin S Llewellyn, Antonio Morocoima, Servio Urdaneta-Morales, Cinda Martínez, Clara E Martínez, Carlos Garcia, Marlenes Rodríguez, Raul Espinosa, Belkisyolé A de Noya, Zoraida Díaz-Bello, Leidi Herrera, Sinead Fitzpatrick, Matthew Yeo, Michael A Miles, M Dora Feliciangeli
Affiliations

Geographical distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes in Venezuela

Hernán J Carrasco et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012.

Abstract

Chagas disease is an endemic zoonosis native to the Americas and is caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite is also highly genetically diverse, with six discrete typing units (DTUs) reported TcI - TcVI. These DTUs broadly correlate with several epidemiogical, ecological and pathological features of Chagas disease. In this manuscript we report the most comprehensive evaluation to date of the genetic diversity of T. cruzi in Venezuela. The dataset includes 778 samples collected and genotyped over the last twelve years from multiple hosts and vectors, including nine wild and domestic mammalian host species, and seven species of triatomine bug, as well as from human sources. Most isolates (732) can be assigned to the TcI clade (94.1%); 24 to the TcIV group (3.1%) and 22 to TcIII (2.8%). Importantly, among the 95 isolates genotyped from human disease cases, 79% belonged to TcI - a DTU common in the Americas, however, 21% belonged to TcIV- a little known genotype previously thought to be rare in humans. Furthermore, were able to assign multiple oral Chagas diseases cases to TcI in the area around the capital, Caracas. We discuss our findings in the context of T. cruzi DTU distributions elsewhere in the Americas, and evaluate the impact they have on the future of Chagas disease control in Venezuela.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Isoenzyme profiles of GPI and PGM from representative circulating Venezuelan Trypanosoma cruzi strains.
Loading order, left to right: TcI, WA250 cl 10B; TcII, Esmeraldo cl2; TcIV, CanIII cl 1; 1, 8839(TcIV); 2, 8196(TcIV); 3, 10141(TcI); 4, 10610(TcIV); 5, 8089(TcI); 6, 6872(TcI); 7, PGN23(TcI); 8, PGN27(TcIV); 9, PGN31(TcI).
Figure 2
Figure 2. RAPD profiles of representative circulating Venezuelan Trypanosoma cruzi strains.
Loading order, left to right A: 1, CanIII cl 1 (TcIV); 2, Esmeraldo cl2 (TcII); 3, WA250 cl 10B (TcI); 4, 8839(TcIV); 5, 8196(TcIV); 6, 10141(TcI); 7, 10610(TcIV); 8, 8089(TcI); 9, 6872(TcI); 10, PGN23(TcI); 11, PGN27(TcIV); 12, PGN31(TcI); L, 1 kb DNA Ladder. B: 1, CanIII cl1 ; 2, Esmeraldo cl2; 3, WA250 cl 10B; 4, 11932; 5, 7082; 6, 8104; 7, 7570; 8, 7780; 9, SJ1097; 10, pgn2; 11, PGCHG; 12, CD45.
Figure 3
Figure 3. PCR-RFLP genotyping profiles of Venezuelan Trypanosoma cruzi strains.
Each pair of lanes shows undigested PCR product followed by restriction digest products for GPI (A) and HSP60 (B). Loading order, left to right: 1, BAJV104; 2, XPMPDM5; 3, VE1003; 4, VE3303; 5, BACR104; 6, BAJT104; 7, PARAMA13; L(A), Hyperladder I (Bioline, UK); L(B), Hyperladder V (Bioline, UK).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) in Venezuela.
The three maps display samples collected from humans (top left), vectors (top right), and mammal reservoirs (bottom left). Pie chart area is proportional to sampling size. Pie segment colour represents DTU identity. Inset on each map shows the capital (Caracas) and surrounding states in greater detail.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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