title: Prevalence, Genetic Characterization, and 18S Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Diversity of Trypanosoma rangeli in Triatomine and Mammal Hosts in Endemic Areas for Chagas Disease in Ecuador.
abstract: Trypanosoma rangeli is a nonpathogenic parasite for humans; however, its medical importance relies in its similarity and overlapping distribution with Trypanosoma cruzi, causal agent of Chagas disease in the Americas. The genetic diversity of T. rangeli and its association with host species (triatomines and mammals) has been identified along Central and the South America; however, it has not included data of isolates from Ecuador. This study reports infection with T. rangeli in 18 genera of mammal hosts and five species of triatomines in three environments (domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic). Higher infection rates were found in the sylvatic environment, in close association with Rhodnius ecuadoriensis. The results of this study extend the range of hosts infected with this parasite and the geographic range of the T. rangeli genotype KP1(-)/lineage C in South America. It was not possible to detect variation on T. rangeli from the central coastal region and southern Ecuador with the analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene, even though these areas are ecologically different and a phenotypic subdivision of R. ecuadoriensis has been found. R. ecuadoriensis is considered one of the most important vectors for Chagas disease transmission in Ecuador due to its wide distribution and adaptability to diverse environments. An extensive knowledge of the trypanosomes circulating in this species of triatomine, and associated mammal hosts, is important for delineating transmission dynamics and preventive measures in the endemic areas of Ecuador and Northern Peru.
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Infectious and Chronic Disease Research, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador , and Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University , Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ocaña-Mayorga
authors.affiliation: 2 Life Sciences Department, University of the Army Forces-ESPE, Sangolqui, Ecuador, and Center for Infectious and Chronic Disease Research, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador , Quito, Ecuador .
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aguirre-Villacis
authors.affiliation: 3 Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York; and Center for Infectious and Chronic Disease Research, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador , Quito, Ecuador .
authors.forename: C Miguel
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: 4 Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Tolima , Ibagué, Colombia .
authors.forename: Gustavo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.affiliation: 5 Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and Center for Infectious and Chronic Disease Research, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador , Quito, Ecuador .
authors.forename: Mario J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grijalva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008322:Mammals; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000469:parasitology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D057509:Trypanosoma rangeli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Ecuador.; KP1(−); Lineage C; Loja Province; Manabí Province; Rhodnius ecuadoriensis; SSU-rRNA; Trypanosoma rangeli characterization