Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis

Abstract Background Relatively little is known about how pathogens transmitted by vector insects are affected by changing temperatures analogous to those occurring in the present global warming scenario. One expectation is that, like their ectothermic vectors, an increase in temperature could reduce...

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Main Authors: Berenice González-Rete, Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera, José Antonio de Fuentes-Vicente, Paz María Salazar-Schettino, Margarita Cabrera-Bravo, Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-08-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04872-6
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author Berenice González-Rete
Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera
José Antonio de Fuentes-Vicente
Paz María Salazar-Schettino
Margarita Cabrera-Bravo
Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
author_facet Berenice González-Rete
Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera
José Antonio de Fuentes-Vicente
Paz María Salazar-Schettino
Margarita Cabrera-Bravo
Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
author_sort Berenice González-Rete
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Relatively little is known about how pathogens transmitted by vector insects are affected by changing temperatures analogous to those occurring in the present global warming scenario. One expectation is that, like their ectothermic vectors, an increase in temperature could reduce their fitness. Here, we have investigated the effect of high temperatures on the abundance of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites during infection in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis. Methods We exposed T. pallidipennis nymphs to two strains (Morelos and Chilpancingo) of T. cruzi. Once infected, the fifth-instar bugs were distributed among three different temperature groups, i.e. 20, 30, and 34 °C, and the resulting parasites were counted when the bugs reached adulthood. Results The number of parasites increased linearly with time at 20 °C and, to a lesser extent, at 30 °C, especially in the Chilpancingo compared to the Morelos strain. Conversely, at 34 °C, the number of parasites of both strains decreased significantly compared to the other two temperatures. Conclusions These results suggest negative effects on the abundance of T. cruzi in T. pallidipennis at high temperatures. This is the first evidence of the effect of high temperatures on a pathogenic agent transmitted by an insect vector in the context of global warming. Further tests should be done to determine whether this pattern occurs with other triatomine species and T. cruzi strains. Graphical abstract
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spelling doaj.art-83bd99cab95044758630d2d9ed44dd612022-12-21T19:43:01ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052021-08-011411810.1186/s13071-021-04872-6Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennisBerenice González-Rete0Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera1José Antonio de Fuentes-Vicente2Paz María Salazar-Schettino3Margarita Cabrera-Bravo4Alex Córdoba-Aguilar5Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCONACYT-Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaInstituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias Y Artes de ChiapasDepartamento de Microbiología Y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoDepartamento de Microbiología Y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoDepartamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoAbstract Background Relatively little is known about how pathogens transmitted by vector insects are affected by changing temperatures analogous to those occurring in the present global warming scenario. One expectation is that, like their ectothermic vectors, an increase in temperature could reduce their fitness. Here, we have investigated the effect of high temperatures on the abundance of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites during infection in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis. Methods We exposed T. pallidipennis nymphs to two strains (Morelos and Chilpancingo) of T. cruzi. Once infected, the fifth-instar bugs were distributed among three different temperature groups, i.e. 20, 30, and 34 °C, and the resulting parasites were counted when the bugs reached adulthood. Results The number of parasites increased linearly with time at 20 °C and, to a lesser extent, at 30 °C, especially in the Chilpancingo compared to the Morelos strain. Conversely, at 34 °C, the number of parasites of both strains decreased significantly compared to the other two temperatures. Conclusions These results suggest negative effects on the abundance of T. cruzi in T. pallidipennis at high temperatures. This is the first evidence of the effect of high temperatures on a pathogenic agent transmitted by an insect vector in the context of global warming. Further tests should be done to determine whether this pattern occurs with other triatomine species and T. cruzi strains. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04872-6Triatoma pallidipennisTrypanosoma cruziStrainsGlobal warmingTemperatureParasites
spellingShingle Berenice González-Rete
Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera
José Antonio de Fuentes-Vicente
Paz María Salazar-Schettino
Margarita Cabrera-Bravo
Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
Parasites & Vectors
Triatoma pallidipennis
Trypanosoma cruzi
Strains
Global warming
Temperature
Parasites
title Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
title_full Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
title_fullStr Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
title_full_unstemmed Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
title_short Higher temperatures reduce the number of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector Triatoma pallidipennis
title_sort higher temperatures reduce the number of trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the vector triatoma pallidipennis
topic Triatoma pallidipennis
Trypanosoma cruzi
Strains
Global warming
Temperature
Parasites
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04872-6
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