Trypanosomatid Richness Among Rats, Opossums, and Dogs in the Caatinga Biome, Northeast Brazil, a Former Endemic Area of Chagas Disease.

ABSTRACT: Parasites are important components of the immense n-dimensional trophic network that connects all living beings because they, among others, forge biodiversity and deeply influence ecological evolution and host behavior. In this sense, the influence of Trypanosomatidae remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine trypanosomatid infection and richness in rats, opossums, and dogs in the semiarid Caatinga biome. We submitted DNA samples from trypanosomatids obtained through axenic cultures of the blood of these mammals to mini exon multiplex-PCR, Sanger, and next-generation sequencing targeting the 18S rDNA gene. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify genetic diversity in the Trypanosomatidae family. Shannon, Simpson, equability, and beta-diversity indices were calculated

SUBMITTER: Dario MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9251133 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature