Melisa E Morales, Rubén Cimino, Juan P Mackern-Oberti, Catalina Muñoz-San Martín, Pedro E Cattan, Mariella Superina
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Urban domestic dog populations can provide important clues about the eco-epidemiological characteristics of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (ChD). Given the limited data on ChD from the Metropolitan Area of Mendoza, Argentina, a seroprevalence survey of 327 dogs across an urban-rural gradient was conducted between April 2018 and May 2019. Seropositive cases were analyzed considering host, social, and environmental factors, subtypes (DTUs), and bloodstream parasite load. Seroprevalence of infection by T. cruzi total antigens (ELISA-H) was similar in urban (18%), interface (14%), and rural (21%) areas. Serotyping (recombinant TSSA-II antigen ELISA) revealed that 61% (37/61) of seropositive dogs carried the subtypes TcII, V and/or VI. There was no difference in the proportion of seropositive dogs versus seronegative dogs that lived with a person with ChD (9/62 = 14% vs. 35/265 = 13%, respectively). Parasite loads in seropositive dogs varied between < 0.10 and 1.18 parasite-equivalents/ml. Dogs with T. cruzi infection were in good health and nutritional condition, suggesting that they may have indeterminate or chronic stage infections. High infection rates in all areas and limited knowledge of owners about ChD and its triatomine vectors emphasize the need to intensify entomological studies, especially in urban areas, and promote vector information campaigns. This work shows that screening of dogs is a beneficial epidemiological tool to deepen studies on ChD from a One Health perspective.
期刊介绍:
EcoHealth aims to advance research, practice, and knowledge integration at the interface of ecology and health by publishing high quality research and review articles that address and profile new ideas, developments, and programs. The journal’s scope encompasses research that integrates concepts and theory from many fields of scholarship (including ecological, social and health sciences, and the humanities) and draws upon multiple types of knowledge, including those of relevance to practice and policy. Papers address integrated ecology and health challenges arising in public health, human and veterinary medicine, conservation and ecosystem management, rural and urban development and planning, and other fields that address the social-ecological context of health. The journal is a central platform for fulfilling the mission of the EcoHealth Alliance to strive for sustainable health of people, domestic animals, wildlife, and ecosystems by promoting discovery, understanding, and transdisciplinarity.
The journal invites substantial contributions in the following areas:
One Health and Conservation Medicine
o Integrated research on health of humans, wildlife, livestock and ecosystems
o Research and policy in ecology, public health, and agricultural sustainability
o Emerging infectious diseases affecting people, wildlife, domestic animals, and plants
o Research and practice linking human and animal health and/or social-ecological systems
o Anthropogenic environmental change and drivers of disease emergence in humans, wildlife, livestock and ecosystems
o Health of humans and animals in relation to terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems
Ecosystem Approaches to Health
o Systems thinking and social-ecological systems in relation to health
o Transdiiplinary approaches to health, ecosystems and society.