Feeding preferences of T. dimidiata by 12S rRNA amplification

Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a public health threat in Latin America, and most of the regions in Colombia are endemic. Triatoma dimidiata is an important T. cruzi vector after R. prolixus, and it is gaining importance in Boyacá, eastern Colombia, where its populations are known to present complex epidemiological cycles. There is evidence of house infestation, colonization processes, and high infection rates. Following the recent vector transmission elimination of R. prolixus in the region, it is pivotal to understand the behavior of secondary vectors as T. dimidiata and the transmission dynamics of T. cruzi. We used qPCR and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to evaluate T. cruzi infection, parasite load, feeding profiles, and T. cruzi genotyping for T. dimidiata individuals collected in nine municipalities in Boyacá and explored T. dimidiata population genetics. We found a single population of T. dimidiata with similar genetic characteristics that present infection rates of up to 70%, high parasite loads up to 1.46 × 109 parasite-equivalents per mL, a feeding behavior that comprises at least 17 domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic species, and a wide diversity of TcI genotypes even within a single sample. These results imply that T. dimidiata behavior is similar to other successful vectors, having a wide variety of blood sources and contributing to the circulation of different genotypes of the parasite, highlighting its importance for T. cruzi transmission and risk for humans. In the light of the elimination of R. prolixus in Boyacá and the results we found, we suggest that T. dimidiata should become a new target for vector control programs. We hope this study provides enough information to enhance surveillance programs and a future effective interruption of T. cruzi vectorial transmission in endemic regions for the disease.