Current situation of American trypanosomiasis in Mexico: an opportunity to implement One Health Approach to advance surveillance and control

Authors: VELAZQUEZ-RAMIREZ, DOIREYNER - El Colegio De La Frontera Sur (ECOSUR); OCHOA-DIAZ-LOPEZ, HECTOR - El Colegio De La Frontera Sur (ECOSUR); GARZA-RAMOS, JUAN - Faculty Of Veterinary Medicine And Zootechnics; LOPEZ-ESCALERA, JOSE OCAMPO - El Colegio De La Frontera Sur (ECOSUR); ESPINOZA-MEDINILLA, EDUARDO - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas; IRECTA NAJERA, CESAR - Colegio De La Frontera; NAVARRO-LOPEZ, ROBERTO - Laboratory Of The Mexico United States Commission For Prevention Of Foot And Mouth Disease And Othe; DELGADO-ENCISO, IVAN - Universidad De Colima; Perez De Leon, Adalberto; DEBBOUN, MUSTAPHA - Delta Mosquito And Vector Control District

Submitted to: ACTA TROPICA
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Kissing bugs can bite livestock to feed on blood. Some kissing bug species transmit the agent that causes American trypanosomiasis (AT), also known as Chagas disease, in humans. It is important to understand AT transmission networks to assess the risk for human infection. In some rural parts of Mexico kissing bug vectors of AT bite cattle and wildlife. However, AT transmission networks remain to be fully understood in Mexico. This publication describes the One Health approach to research on AT to understand disease transmission especially in parts of rural and semi-rural parts of Mexico where livestock, wildlife, and AT kissing bug vectors interface. One Health is a collaborative and transdisciplinary strategy to achieve optimal health outcomes for humans, animals, and plants recognizing their ecological linkages. Research collaboration taking the One Health approach is expected to advance AT surveillance, which can enhance disease control.

Technical Abstract: American trypanosomiasis (AT) or Chagas disease is an ancient disease with an interesting history. Despite efforts to control AT, the global burden of this vector-borne disease is still great. Currently, more than six million people around the world are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and about 75 million are at risk of infection in the Americas region. Mexico is one of the countries most affected by AT, with four million people who might be infected with T. cruzi. Approximately, 60% of the accumulated confirmed cases occurred in the southeast region of the country. Control strategy of AT in Mexico consists of interrupting vector-borne disease transmission through integrated triatomine management and eliminating T. cruzi transmission through the congenital and blood transfusion routes. Beyond vector control, there is no specific prophylaxis. Based on current research, we have begun to understand the complexity that AT represents for both humans and animals, thus making us seek comprehensive responses focused on transdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration. The One Health approach emerges as an important alternative that can assist in understanding the complexities of AT as a vector-borne disease system with diverse components in different epidemiological landscapes. Therefore, the One Health approach provides the opportunity to make a shift in the approach that involves ongoing collaborative efforts and actions to achieve optimal health outcomes among people, animals, and their shared environment. Implementing the One Health approach to a sustainable AT strategy is an opportunity to advance surveillance and control efforts for this neglected disease that affects poorer rural and semi-rural populations in Mexico and other Latin American countries.