Vaccination with Trypanosoma rangeli induces resistance of guinea pigs to virulent Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas’ disease, endemic in Latin America, is spread in natural environments through animal reservoirs, including marsupials, mice and guinea pigs. Farms breeding guinea pigs for food are located in some Latin-American countries with consequent risk of digestive infection. The aim of this work was to study the effect of vaccination with Trypanosoma rangeli in guinea pigs challenged with Trypanosoma cruzi. Animals were vaccinated with fixated epimastigotes of T. rangeli, emulsified with saponin. Controls received only PBS. Before being challenged with T. cruzi, parasitemia, survival rates and histological studies were performed. The vaccinated guinea pigs revealed significantly lower parasitemia than controls (p < 0.0001–0.01) and a discrete lymphomonocytic infiltrate in cardiac and skeletal muscles was present. In the chronic phase, the histological view was normal. In contrast, control group revealed amastigote nests and typical histopathological alterations compatible with chagasic myocarditis, endocarditis and pericarditis. These results, together with previous works in our laboratory, show that T. rangeli induces immunoprotection in three species of animals: mice, guinea pigs and dogs. The development of vaccines for use in animals, like domestic dogs and guinea pigs in captivity, opens up new opportunities for preventive tools, and could reduce the risk of infection with T. cruzi in the community.     

Sylvatic Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Among Domestic and Wildlife Reservoirs in Texas,USA: A Review of the Historical Literature

Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases affecting the Americas. The transmission dynamic of this parasite is a complicated process that involves three genera of Triatominae subfamily and over 100 known mammalian reservoirs composed of domestic, peridomestic and wildlife species. Understanding the complex relationship between vector species and mammalian hosts is important for preventing transmission to humans. We performed a historical literature review to assess the disease burden in the Texas wildlife and domestic animal population. Reports of sylvatic transmission in Texas date back to the 1940s. We found that up to 23 species can serve as reservoirs for T. cruzi in the state with wood rats, raccoons, and wild and domestic canine species most frequently reported as positive for the parasite. We finish with a discussion of the current research gaps, implications for high‐risk populations and future directions for research.     

切断传染源与传染途径对防治猪病重要性

近年,生猪养殖产业不断向着集约化规模化方向发展,养殖密度增加的同时,各种传染性疾病呈现高发趋势。猪传染性疾病发生后,会造成生长发育不良,行动迟缓,生理指标失衡,甚至引发死亡,带来的经济损失不可估量,某些人畜共患病还会威胁人类的身体健康。在疫病防控过程中,需要从传染源、传播途径和易感群体等角度出发,减少养殖环境病原数量,切断病原传播途径,保护易感群体,确保生猪健康生长。该文主要结合一个乡镇的疫病流行特点,分析切断传染源和传播途径对防治猪病发生流行的重要性。