Projected future distributions of vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in North America under climate change scenarios.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas disease kills approximately 45 thousand people annually and affects 10 million people in Latin America and the southern United States. The parasite that causes the disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, can be transmitted by insects of the family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae. Any study that attempts to evaluate risk for Chagas disease must focus on the ecology and biogeography of these vectors. Expected distributional shifts of vector species due to climate change are likely to alter spatial patterns of risk of Chagas disease, presumably through northward expansion of high risk areas in North America.

Methodology/principal findings

We forecast the future (2050) distributions in North America of Triatoma gerstaeckeri and T. sanguisuga, two of the most common triat

SUBMITTER: Garza M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022587 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature