title: Identification of blood meal source and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi of Chagas disease vectors using a multiplex cytochrome b polymerase chain reaction assay.
abstract: Long-term control of triatomine bugs in Chagas endemic regions will depend on a full understanding of vector-parasite-host interactions. Herein we describe a cytochrome b multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based strategy for blood meal source identification in bug foregut contents. This technique discriminates human from animal blood, and has been tested in five Triatoma species from México. Host identification has been validated for human, four rodent species, two bat species, dog, rabbit, sheep, and opossum. In addition, Trypanosoma cruzi can be identified simultaneously using S34/S67-specific kinetoplast DNA primers. Both host and parasite identification were possible as long as 10 weeks after bug feeding, and in samples stored up to 6 years. The blood meal identification procedure described here represents a powerful tool for large-scale studies identifying the biological, ecological, and environmental variables associated with Chagas disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas (CISEI), Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chacon
authors.forename: Ana E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Cabrera
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Cordero
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Rosalinda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panzera
authors.forename: Janine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramsey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014224:Triatoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b