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Eco-epidemiological Implications of the Diversity of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Ecuador: what do we know and what do we need to do?

Villacis Salazar, Anita Gabriela
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou157928406001465

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
Chagas disease affects Latin-American countries and Ecuador is not the exception. The kissing bugs, Triatominae are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi the causative agent of this disease. At least 151 triatomine species have been recognized as potential vectors worldwide. Sixteen species of Triatominae have been reported in Ecuador, distributed in twenty of the twenty-four provinces. Over the last 10 years, our group from the Center for Research Health in Latin America (CISeAL) at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, and the Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute at Ohio University carried out intensive research in two very different provinces, Manabi (central coastal region) and Loja (southern Andean region), which they reported as having the highest level of triatomine infestations within the country. These two regions differ from each other specifically in their: 1) bioclimatic conditions, 2) material of the house construction (domicile), 3) peridomicile structures and 4) sylvatic environments. In order to improve the knowledge of the transmission cycles of CD, we need to first comprehend the distribution of the different species of triatominae in both regions. Then, I investigated the presence of sylvatic populations of Triatomines in the palms and nests surrounding human dwellings in approximately 70 communities in the Ecuadorian central coastal region, to understand the dynamics of sylvatic cycle of Chagas disease. After that, I explored the genetic variability, spatial structuring, and demographic history of the main vector of CD in Ecuador, R. ecuadoriensis, collected in this central coast region. Finally, I evaluated the effectiveness of the manual search method for detecting the presence of the triatomines in the DUs (Domiciliary Units) through repeated sampling in six rural communities in southern Andean region of Ecuador. With this work, I 1) understood the patterns of sylvatic sites infestation all over the central coast region of Ecuador. 2) Showed that the absence of spatial genetic structure could be due to climatic conditions and to passive transportation of palms tree materials (leaves and fruits) where R. ecuadoriensis are living. 3) Suggested that several infested microhabitats (domestic and peridomestic) might be undetected during a single examination, especially when vector density is low. A wrong evaluation of DUs infestation misconstrue transmission risk assessment and mislead program managers’ decisions. Therefore, recommendations to improve triatomine control-surveillance systems in the both regions were proposed and discussed in each chapter.
Mario Grijalva, Ph.D (Advisor)
Sarah Wyatt, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Calvin James, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Benjamin Bates, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Daewoo Lee, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
124 p.
Biology; Biomedical Research; Entomology
Chagas disease; central coastal region; southern Andean region; habitats; Triatomines; Ecuador

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Villacis Salazar, A. G. (2020). Eco-epidemiological Implications of the Diversity of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Ecuador: what do we know and what do we need to do? [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou157928406001465

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Villacis Salazar, Anita . Eco-epidemiological Implications of the Diversity of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Ecuador: what do we know and what do we need to do? . 2020. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou157928406001465.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Villacis Salazar, Anita . "Eco-epidemiological Implications of the Diversity of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Ecuador: what do we know and what do we need to do? ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou157928406001465

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.