Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma
Abstract Background Trypanosoma are protozoa parasites that infect animals and can cause economic losses in cattle production. Trypanosoma live in the blood and are transmitted by hematophagous insects, such as flies in the genus Tabanus. Using ecological niche models, we explored the current geogra...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06708-z |
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| author | Roberta Marques Daniel Jiménez-García Luis E. Escobar Tiago Kütter Krolow Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger |
| author_facet | Roberta Marques Daniel Jiménez-García Luis E. Escobar Tiago Kütter Krolow Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger |
| author_sort | Roberta Marques |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Trypanosoma are protozoa parasites that infect animals and can cause economic losses in cattle production. Trypanosoma live in the blood and are transmitted by hematophagous insects, such as flies in the genus Tabanus. Using ecological niche models, we explored the current geography of six common Tabanus species in Brazil, which are considered vectors of Trypanosoma vivax and Tr. evansi in the Neotropics. Methods We used georeferenced data and biotic and abiotic variables integrated using a fundamental ecological niche modeling approach. Modeling results from six Tabanus species were used to identify risk areas of Trypanosoma transmission in Latin America accounting for area predicted, landscape conditions, and density of livestock. We performed Jaccard, Schoener, and Hellinger metrics to indicate the ecological niche similarities of pairs of Tabanus species to identify known and likely vectors overlapping in distribution across geographies. Results Our results revealed significant ecological niche similarities for two Tabanus species (T. pungens and T. sorbillans), whereas T. triangulum and T. importunus have low ecological similarity. Ecological niche models predicted risk of Trypanosoma transmission across Neotropical countries, with the highest risk in southern South America, Venezuela, and central Mexico. Conclusions More than 1.6 billion cattle and 38 million horses are under a threat category for infection risk. Furthermore, we identified specific areas and livestock populations at high risk of trypanosomiasis in Latin America. This study reveals the areas, landscapes, and populations at risk of Trypanosoma infections in livestock in the Americas. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd4bf8c8edee4c058034a3c0abf59dc3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd4bf8c8edee4c058034a3c0abf59dc32025-08-20T03:04:58ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-04-0118111210.1186/s13071-025-06708-zSpatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of TrypanosomaRoberta Marques0Daniel Jiménez-García1Luis E. Escobar2Tiago Kütter Krolow3Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger4Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de PelotasLaboratorio de Biodiversidad, Centro de Agroecología y Ambiente, Instituto de Ciencias de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de PueblaDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia TechLaboratório de Entomologia, Coordenação de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do TocantinsPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de PelotasAbstract Background Trypanosoma are protozoa parasites that infect animals and can cause economic losses in cattle production. Trypanosoma live in the blood and are transmitted by hematophagous insects, such as flies in the genus Tabanus. Using ecological niche models, we explored the current geography of six common Tabanus species in Brazil, which are considered vectors of Trypanosoma vivax and Tr. evansi in the Neotropics. Methods We used georeferenced data and biotic and abiotic variables integrated using a fundamental ecological niche modeling approach. Modeling results from six Tabanus species were used to identify risk areas of Trypanosoma transmission in Latin America accounting for area predicted, landscape conditions, and density of livestock. We performed Jaccard, Schoener, and Hellinger metrics to indicate the ecological niche similarities of pairs of Tabanus species to identify known and likely vectors overlapping in distribution across geographies. Results Our results revealed significant ecological niche similarities for two Tabanus species (T. pungens and T. sorbillans), whereas T. triangulum and T. importunus have low ecological similarity. Ecological niche models predicted risk of Trypanosoma transmission across Neotropical countries, with the highest risk in southern South America, Venezuela, and central Mexico. Conclusions More than 1.6 billion cattle and 38 million horses are under a threat category for infection risk. Furthermore, we identified specific areas and livestock populations at high risk of trypanosomiasis in Latin America. This study reveals the areas, landscapes, and populations at risk of Trypanosoma infections in livestock in the Americas. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06708-zEcological niche modelingIllness riskNeotropicsHorse flyTrypanosomiasis |
| spellingShingle | Roberta Marques Daniel Jiménez-García Luis E. Escobar Tiago Kütter Krolow Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma Parasites & Vectors Ecological niche modeling Illness risk Neotropics Horse fly Trypanosomiasis |
| title | Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma |
| title_full | Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma |
| title_fullStr | Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma |
| title_short | Spatial epidemiology of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) vectors of Trypanosoma |
| title_sort | spatial epidemiology of tabanus diptera tabanidae vectors of trypanosoma |
| topic | Ecological niche modeling Illness risk Neotropics Horse fly Trypanosomiasis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06708-z |
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