Trypanosome species in neo-tropical bats: biological, evolutionary and epidemiological implications.

Bats (Chiroptera) are the only mammals naturally able to fly. Due to this characteristic they play a relevant ecological role in the niches they inhabit. These mammals spread infectious diseases from enzootic to domestic foci. Rabbies, SARS, fungi, ebola and trypanosomes are the most common pathogens these animals may host. We conducted intensive sampling of bats from the phyllostomidae, vespertilionidae and emballonuridae families in six localities from Casanare department in eastern Colombia. Blood-EDTA samples were obtained and subsequently submitted to analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers in order to conduct barcoding analyses to discriminate trypanosome species. The findings according to the congruence of the three molecular markers suggest the occurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi (51%), T. c. marinkellei (9%), T. dionisii (13%), T. rangeli (21%), T. evansi (4%) and T. theileri (2%) among 107 positive bat specimens. Regarding the T. cruzi DTUs, we observed the presence of TcI (60%), TcII (15%), TcIII (7%), TcIV (7%) and TcBAT (11%) being the first evidence to our concern of the foreseen genotype TcBAT in Colombia. These results allowed us to propose reliable hypotheses regarding the ecology and biology of the bats circulating in the area including the enigmatic question whether TcBAT should be considered a novel DTU. The epidemiological and evolutionary implications of these findings are herein discussed.

Comparación de métodos para la captura de triatominos (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) en palmas Attalea butyraceaen los Llanos Orientales de Colombia / Comparison of methods for the capture of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Attalea butyracea palms in the Eastern Plains of Colombia

Introducción. El estudio de los triatominos en sus ecótopos naturales tiene gran significado en la epidemiología de la enfermedad de Chagas. La recolección de insectos vivos y su establecimiento en insectarios permite realizar incontables estudios. Por ello se necesitan métodos efectivos para la captura de triatominos silvestres, especialmente especies intrusas como Rhodnius prolixus. Objetivo. Comparar cuatro métodos para la captura de triatominos en palmas para medir su efectividad. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se llevó a cabo en la localidad de Maní, departamento de Casanare, Colombia, con predominio de Attalea butyracea. Se compararon cuatro metodologías en 67 palmas: trampas con cebo vivo, búsqueda directa en palmas, tala y disección. Resultados. Los métodos fueron efectivos para recolectar ejemplares juveniles y adultos. La tala y la búsqueda manual mostraron los mayores índices de infestación (100 % y 83,33 %). La trampa Angulo mostró mayores índices de hacinamiento (4,93), densidad (3,76), rango de abundancia (1-13) e índice adulto/ninfa (0,22). La tala y la disección fue el método que significativamente recolectó más triatominos en comparación con los otros (p<0,002), seguido de la trampa Angulo. No se observaron diferencias en la captura de los estadios de ninfas entre los métodos evaluados (p>0,05). Conclusiones. Aunque la tala fue el mejor método para la recolección del mayor número de triatominos, los métodos con el cebo vivo con adhesivos o refugios para atrapar los insectos, fueron una buena alternativa. Entre ellos, la trampa Angulo mostró mejores resultados y evitó la exposición del investigador al riesgo y la intervención de ecotopos naturales.

Introduction: Studying triatominae in their natural ecotopes has great significance in the epidemiology of Chagas disease. Gathering live insects and the establishment of insectaries allows countless studies. Therefore, effective methods are needed for capturing wild triatomines, especially intrusive species such as Rhodnius prolixus. Objective: To compare four methods of capturing triatomines in palms to measure their effectiveness. Materials and methods: Our study was conducted in Maní, department of Casanare, Colombia, with a predominance of A. butyracea. We compared four methodologies in 67 palms: live-bait traps, direct search in the palms, felling and dissection. Results: The methods were effective to collect juveniles and adults. Felling and manual search showed the highest infestation rates (100% and 83.33%). Higher indexes of overcrowding (4.93), density (3.76), abundance range (1-13) and adult/nymph index (0.22) were obtained with the Angulo trap. Felling and dissection was the method which significantly collected a greater number of triatomines compared with the other methods (p <0.002); it was followed by the Angulo trap. We did not find any differences in the collection of the nymphal stages among the evaluated methods (p> 0.05).Conclusions: Even though felling was the best method for collecting the highest number of triatomines, live-bait with adhesives or shelters to trap insects were a good alternative to collect the insects in palms. Among them, the Angulo trap showed better results and it prevents the risk of exposure of the researcher and the intervention of natural ecotopes.

[Comparison of methods for the capture of triatomines ( Hemiptera: Reduviidae ) in Attalea butyracea palms in the Eastern Plains of Colombia]. / Comparación de métodos para la captura de triatominos (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) en palmas Attalea butyracea en los Llanos Orientales de Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Studying triatominae in their natural ecotopes has great significance in the epidemiology of Chagas disease. Gathering live insects and the establishment of insectaries allows countless studies. Therefore, effective methods are needed for capturing wild triatomines, especially intrusive species such as Rhodnius prolixus . OBJECTIVE: To compare four methods of capturing triatomines in palms to measure their effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was conducted in Maní, department of Casanare, Colombia, with a predominance of A. butyracea . We compared four methodologies in 67 palms: live-bait traps, direct search in the palms, felling and dissection. RESULTS: The methods were effective to collect juveniles and adults. Felling and manual search showed the highest infestation rates (100% and 83.33%). Higher indexes of overcrowding (4.93), density (3.76), abundance range (1-13) and adult/nymph index (0.22) were obtained with the Angulo trap. Felling and dissection was the method which significantly collected a greater number of triatomines compared with the other methods (p <0.002); it was followed by the Angulo trap. We did not find any differences in the collection of the nymphal stages among the evaluated methods (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Even though felling was the best method for collecting the highest number of triatomines, live-bait with adhesives or shelters to trap insects were a good alternative to collect the insects in palms. Among them, the Angulo trap showed better results and it prevents the risk of exposure of the researcher and the intervention of natural ecotopes.