dipetalonema perstans
Transcription
dipetalonema perstans
Article available at http://www.parasite-journal.org or http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2000072071 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS A N D THE DISTRIBUTION OF MANSONELLIASES I N SOUTHERN VENEZUELA G Ó M E Z J . * & G U E R R E R O R.** Summary: Résumé : FACTEURS ENVIRONNEMENTAUX ET DISTRIBUTION DES The distribution of mansonelliases and their relation to various quantitative criteria were determined through the study of 1,057 subjects in 17 localities in ten regions of Amazonas State and Bolivar State. The total prevalence among the blood samples, determined through the Knott technique, was 1 8.54 %. 1 1.26 % were parasited by Mansonella perstans, 9.93 % by Mansonella ozzardi, and 2.63 % by both species. The average of microfilaremia was 48.19 mf/mL of blood in /VI. perstans and 13.79 mf/mL in M. ozzardi. In the regions studied, A/I. ozzardi has a wider area of distribution than M. perstans. Prevalence, average number of parasites per host, and the infection index have a positive and statistically significant correlation with the total annual precipitation mean for each region for M. perstans; in the case of M. ozzardi the quantitative parameters are positively correlated with the altitude of each region, this correlation being statistically significant. With respect to type of vegetation, M. perstans had a higher infection index in Amazonian caatinga transition in pluvial lowland forest, and M. ozzardi in semideciduous forest of the alisio type. Therefore two types of transmission, M. ozzardi-Simulium and M. perstans-Culicoides are suggested. MANSONELLOSES DANS LE SUD DU VENEZUELA La distribution des mansonelloses et leurs relations à divers critères quantitatifs ont été déterminés à partir de l'étude de I 057 sujets dans 17 localités de dix régions des États d'Amazonas et de Bolivar, la prévalence dans les prélèvements sanguins, déterminée selon la technique de Knott, était de 18,54 %. 11,26 % étaient parasités par Mansonella perstans, 9,93 % par Mansonella ozzardi, et 2,63 % par les deux espèces, le taux moyen de microfilarémie était de 48, 19 mf/mL pour M. perstans et de 13,79 mf/mL pour M. ozzardi. Dans les régions étudiées, M. ozzardi a une aire de répartition plus vaste que M. perstans. Pour M. perstans, la prévalence, le nombre moyen de parasites et l'index d'infection ont une corrélation positive et statistiquement significative avec la moyenne des précipitations annuelles de chaque région. Dans le cas de M. ozzardi, les paramètres quantitatifs sont carrelés de façon positive et statistiquement significative avec l'altitude de chaque région. Au regard du type de végétation, l'index d'infection de M. perstans est plus élevé dans lest forêts basses et humides, et celui de M. ozzardi dans les forêts semi caduques. En conséquence, deux types de transmission sont suggérés : M. ozzardi-Simulium et M. persistans-Culicoides. KEY WORDS : mansonelliasis, Venezuela, distribution, vegetation types. MOTS CLES : mansonelloses, Venezuela, distribution, végétation. INTRODUCTION M ansonelliases are e n d e m i c in several regions of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. In South America it has b e e n reported in V e n e zuela, Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Argentina a n d Peru (Sasa, 1976; Hawking, 1979), although in most o f these countries its prevalence and geographical distribution, as well as the environmental factors determining distribution, have yet to b e defined. However, many o f the areas in South America w h e r e mansonelliases are e n d e m i c lie within the Amazon basin ( K o z e k et al., 1 9 8 2 b ) . * Centro Amazonico para la Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (CAICET), Ave. Perimetral, Pto. Ayacucho, Edo. Amazonas, Venezuela. ** Instituto de Zoología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, P.O. Box 47058, Caracas 1041A, Venezuela. Correspondence: R. Guerrero. Tel.: (582)-372-5187 - Fax: (582)-605-1204. Email: [email protected] Parasite, 2 0 0 0 , 7, 7 1 - 7 6 In Amazonas State in Venezuela, it has b e e n reported that Mansonella (Mansonella) ozzardi (Manson, 1 8 9 7 ) and Mansonella (Esslingeria) perstans (Manson, 1 8 9 1 ) mainly affect the ethnic groups that inhabit the region (Baumgartner, 1955; B e a v e r et al, 1976; Botto et al, 1983; Formica & Botto, 1990). T h e s e studies s h o w that mansonelliases are widely distributed throughout Amazonas State. However, with the e x c e p t i o n s o f Botto et al. ( 1 9 8 3 ) and Formica & Botto ( 1 9 9 0 ) , they underestimate the infected population b e c a u s e the diagnostic techniques used w e r e not very sensitive. Thus there is a n e e d to evaluate the real situation o f these filarial parasites b y m e a n s o f a technique o f proven sensitivity, such as the Knott technique ( B o t t o et al, 1983; Raccurt et al, 1982). Likewise, there have not b e e n any studies which correlate the distribution o f these parasites, along with epidemiological indexes such as prevalence and parasitical load, to environmental factors like vegetation and rainfall a m o n g others. For this reason w e have carried out studies in different parts o f Amazonas State in Venezuela and in o n e Mémoire 71 GÓMEZ J . & GUERRERO R. locality in Bolívar State in order to determine the prevalence, parasitical load and precise t a x o n o m i c identity o f the Mansonella species involved, and the characteristics o f the different regions in terms o f their vegetation, precipitation and altitude, with the aim o f contributing to the framework o f current k n o w l e d g e about these parasites in the areas in question. I - Upper Cuao, midstream ( n o climatological station, so the figures for G are used). J - River Parguaza, downstream in Bolivar State (27.03° C, 100 m ) . K - T h e T o p o c h o stream, close to Parhueña village ( 2 7 . 0 3 ° C , 100 m ) . MATERIALS AND METHODS AREA OF STUDY T his mainly comprises Amazonas State, with o n e adjacent locality in Bolivar State. T h e Amazonas State is located in the south o f Venezuela and has an area o f 175,750 square kilometres. It lies in the basin o f the O r i n o c o and Negro rivers, upstream from the c o n v e r g e n c e o f the O r i n o c o a n d Meta rivers, o n the frontier with Brazil a n d Colombia. This region is characterised by high average temperatures, abundant and persistent rain, high relative humidity and an extraordinary variety o f vegetation, especially o f the forestal type. M a x i m u m precipitation occurs in the south-west o f the state, while the driest parts are in the south-east and north-west. It has b e e n estimated that 93 % o f the region is covered b y forest with two to four layers o f vegetation, the lower levels consisting o f shrubbery and the upper levels o f big trees. T h e rest o f the surface (7 % ) c o m prises savannahs, rivers and rocky outcrops ( B o a d a , 1983). T h e samples w e r e collected from 17 localities distributed in 11 areas characterised according to their vegetation, following Huber ( 1 9 8 2 ) . T h e annual mean rainfall and annual mean temperatures given are calculated from figures provided by the Direction o f Hidrology and M e t e o r o l o g y at the V e n e z u e l a n E n v i r o n m e n t Ministry. T h e areas are as follows (Fig. 1): A - Rivers Temi and Atacavi, at the source o f the Atab a p o river (26.74°C, 100 metres a b o v e sea level). B - Upper Orinoco, above the village of O c a m o (26.75°C, 150 m ) . C - Cejal, between La Esmeralda and Tama-Tama (27.02°C, 100 m ) . D - River Cunucunuma, between Tama-Tama and Culebra ( 2 7 . 0 2 ° C , 2 2 0 m ) . E - Isla Ratón, an island in the O r i n o c o river south o f Puerto A y a c u c h o (27.03° C, 100 m ) . F - River Cataniapo, downstream ( 2 7 . 0 3 ° C , 100 m ) . G - Rivers Cuao, Sipapo and Autana, downstream and river mouths ( 2 7 . 2 4 ° C , 100 m ) . H - Upper Ventuari, the head o f the river a b o v e Cacuri (27.68°C, 500 m). 72 Mémoire Fig. 1. - R e g i o n s w h e r e t h e study w a s c a r r i e d out. A ) T e m i - A t a c a v i rivers. B ) U p p e r O r i n o c o . C ) Cejal. D ) C u n u c u n u m a river. E ) Isla R a t o n . F ) C a t a n i a p o river. G ) C u a o , S i p a p o , a n d Atitana rivers. H ) U p p e r Ventuari. I) Upper Cuao. J ) Parguaza river. K) T o p o c h o stream. T h e localities and their environmental characteristics are presented in T a b l e I. T h e human population studied comprised ethnic groups inhabiting the regions, p r i n c i p a l l y Y a n o m a m i s ( o n the U p p e r O r i n o c o ) , Y e k u a n a s ( o n the Upper Ventuari and River Cunucunuma), Curripacos, Banivas and Piapocos ( o n the Temi and Atacavi rivers), and Piaroas and Guajibos ( o n the Cuao, Sipapo, Autana, Cataniapo and Parguaza rivers and Isla Raton). PARASITOLOGICAL METHODS A b l o o d sample o f 1.0 ml was taken from e a c h person and processed by the Knott technique. T h e c o m p l e t e t u b e w a s then e x a m i n e d , using a ZEISS Standard microscope with lOx and 4 0 x magnification. T h e cases that tested positively for microfilariae were then stained with Mayer's haematoxylin, following the technique described by D e n h a m ( 1 9 7 5 ) , and their morphological Parasite, 2 0 0 0 , 7, 7 1 - 7 6 M A N S O N E L U A S E S IN S O U T H E R N V E N E Z U E L A Localities Region Precipitation Rio Temi-Rio Atacavi Alto Rio Ocamo Mavaca-Rio Orinoco Ocamo-Rio Orinoco Platanal-Rio Orinoco Rio Mavaca Cejal-Rio Orinoco Rio Cunucunuma Isla Raton Rio Cataniapo Rio Autana Rio Cuao Rio Sipapo Alto Rio Ventuari Alto Rio Cuao Rio Parguaza Caiio Topocho A В в в в в с D E F G G G H I J К 3,574 2,607 2,479 2,607 2,479 2,479 2,632 3,128 2,183 2,571 2,533 2,533 2,533 2,495 2,533 2,737 2,448 1 1 Vegetation Transition amazonian Caatinga/Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Montainous and basimontainous Pluvial Forest Savannah with Riverside Forest Rocky Semideciduous Forest alisio type Low lands Pluvial Forest with bush Low lands Pluvial Forest with bush Low lands Pluvial Forest with bush Semideciduous Forest alisio type Montainous and basimontainous Pluvial Forest Montainous and basimontainous Pluvial Forest Rocky Semideciduous Forest alisio type Annual mean (in mm.). Table I. - Environmental characteristic in the studied localities. characters w e r e e x a m i n e d for the purposes o f taxon o m i c identification, using 4 0 x and lOOx objectives. QUANTITATIVE METHODS The quantitative tenninology and criteria used are those defined by Kisielewska ( 1 9 7 0 ) and modified by Guer rero ( 1 9 7 9 , 1 9 9 6 ) , as follows: . Prevalence: percentage o f infected hosts. . Relative density: average number o f parasites per infected host. . Absolute density: average n u m b e r o f parasites per host (infected and uninfected). . Multiple infection: percentage o f hosts infected by m o r e than o n e species o f parasite. . Infection index: a combination o f prevalence and absolute density, permitting the determination o f the degree o f infection o f the human groups and regions studied. It is important to point out here that s o m e authors favour the use o f the geometric mean in order to deter mine parasitic load (density) instead o f the arithmeticmean (Brandling-Bennett et al, 1 9 8 1 ; Marshall et al., 1974; Sasa, 1 9 7 6 ) . H o w e v e r , the arithmetic m e a n , which is e m p l o y e d in the present work, remains a useful measure that provides valid information in the study o f filariasis (Sasa, 1976), strictly following the cri teria laid d o w n by Kisielewska (op. ciO and Guerrero (op. cit.). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS For the statistical analysis b e t w e e n the quantitative parameters (Prevalence, both densities and infection index) and rainfall and altitude, the product-moment correlation coefficient (Coefficient for Pearson's corrParasite, 2 0 0 0 , 7, 71-76 relation) was calculated following the procedure des cribed by Sokal & Rohlf ( 1 9 6 9 ) , with data processing carried out by the statistical programme Statgraphics Version 4.0 Co. RESULTS I n the samples collected from 1,057 inhabitants o f 17 localities, total prevalence was 18.54 %. 11.26 % w e r e parasited by Mansonella perstans, 9.93 % by Mansonella ozzardi and 2.63 % by both species. T h e average o f microfilaremia was 4 8 . 1 9 mf/mL o f b l o o d in M. perstans and 13-79 mf,mL in M. ozzardi. M. ozzardi was found in 12 ( 7 0 . 6 % ) o f the 17 ana lysed localities, and M. perstans in eight (47.1 % ) . In five localities (29.41 % ) both species were found, while two localities (the Cunucunuma and Mavaca rivers) were free o f mansonelliasis. T h e prevalence was very high in s o m e localities, especially Alto Ventuari ( 7 1 . 2 1 ) for M. ozzardi and the T e m i and Atacavi rivers ( 8 8 . 1 6 % ) for M. perstans (Table II). The number o f circulating microfilariae was low. G e n e rally speaking, in localities where microfilarial density was high the prevalence rate was also high, resulting in an elevated infection index. However, n o relation was found b e t w e e n the infection index and multiple infection. T h e coefficient for Pearson's correlation shows statis tically significant correlations b e t w e e n the quantitative parameters and total average rainfall in the localities studied in the case o f M. perstans, and altitude in the case o f M. ozzardi. Major differences were found in the distribution o f both species o f Mansonella in relation to type o f vegetation. Mémoire 73 GÓMEZ J . & GUERRERO R. Localities Prevalence Number % of M. o. M. p. cases Río Temi-Río Atacavi Alto Río Ocamo Mavaca-Río Orinoco Ocamo-Río Orinoco Platanal-Río Orinoco Río Mavaca Ce¡al-Río Orinoco Río Cunucunuma Isla Raton Río Cataniapo Río Autana Río Cuao Río Sipapo Alto Río Vcntuari Alto Río Cuao Río Parguaza Caño Topocho 1 2 1 76 38 82 35 47 66 30 82 60 119 8 50 27 66 67 170 34 1 13.2 7.9 18.3 5.7 14.9 0.0 3.3 0.0 3.3 2.52 88.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 17.7 12.5 12.5 2.0 0.0 71.2 19.4 0.0 0.0 4.0 3.7 0.0 31.3 2.4 5.9 Density (mf/mL) Absolute Infection index Relative M. o. M.p. M. o. M.p. 1.91 7.0 1i 4.2 2.3 0.0 0.4 0.0 5.4 0.7 4.3 0. 1 0.0 193.9 6.9 0.0 0.0 467.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 39.6 1.0 1.5 0.6 0.0 150.4 2.7 2.1 14.5 88.0 12.9 73.5 15.1 0.0 13.0 0.0 162.5 29.3 34.0 3.0 0.0 272.3 35.4 0.0 0.0 530.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 o.o o.o 0.0 0.0 O.o 224.4 8.0 37.0 15.0 0.0 479.8 116.5 36.0 M. o. 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.2 ".3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.002 0.0 138.1 1.3 0.0 0.0 M.p. 411.9 0.0 0.0 o.o o.o 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ".o 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 47.1 0.1 0.1 Multiple infection 13.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 12.5 2.0 o.o 0.0 19.4 0.0 0.0 Mansonella ozzardi. Mansonella perstans. Table II. - Quantitative results in the studied localities. Criteria Prevalence M. ozzardi Prevalence M. perstans Absolute density M. ozzardi Absolute density M. perstans Relative density M. ozzardi Relative density M. perstans Infection index M. ozzardi Infection index M. perstans Precipitation Altitude - 0.6930 (0.792) 0.7233 (O.OOD* - 0.1169 (0.655) 0.7518 (O.OOD* - 0.2953 (0.250) 0.5479 (0.023) - 0.1064 (0.685) 0.7916 (0.000)* 0.897 (0.000)* - 0.140 (0.591) 0.923 (0.000)* - 0.093 (0.723) 0.717 (0.001)* - 0.082 (0.754) 0.921 (0.000)* - 0.113 (0.666) * Correlation (P = 0.001). Table III. - Pearson's correlation coefficients between quantitative criteria and environmental variables. M. ozzardi evidences a higher infection index in those regions which have Alisio-type semi-deciduous forest, while M. perstans is higher in Amazonian caatinga transition in pluvial lowland forest. DISCUSSION T he results o f this study confirm that mansonelliases is widespread in Amazonas State a n d the neighbouring areas o f Bolivar State, in the south o f Venezuela. 74 T h e main focuses are in the regions o f the T e m i a n d Atacavi rivers with an infection index (i.i.) o f 413-52, and in Upper Ventuari (i.i. = 1 3 8 . 0 9 ) . The former undoubtedly represents an extension o f the focus described b y Formica & Botto ( 1 9 9 0 ) in V e n e zuela and K o z e k et al. ( 1 9 8 2 a ) in Colombia, a focus in which M. perstans must b e e n d e m i c . Apart from the d o m i n a n c e o f M. perstans, this focus is characterised by high prevalence and an elevated percentage o f inhabitants parasited b y both species o f Mansonella. T h e Upper Ventuari focus is probably an extension o f the o n e described by G o d o y et al. ( 1 9 8 0 ) in the southwest o f Bolivar State, and is due to M. ozzardi. Lesser infestations o c c u r in the regions o f the Upper Cuao (i.i. = 4 9 . 3 3 ) and River Cataniapo (i.i. = 7.12). Both of these regions w e r e reported as focuses o f m a n s o nelliasis by Baumgartner ( 1 9 5 5 ) . T h e remaining localities studied had infection indexes o f less than o n e (1.0). M. ozzardi w a s spread over a wider area than M. perstans, the latter being distributed in the north-west o f Amazonas State, from the T e m i a n d Atacavi rivers to north o f Puerto Ayacucho, o n the Cuao, Sipapo and Autana rivers, and in neighbouring localities in Bolivar State. M. ozzardi is found to the east a n d south-east o f the Temi a n d Atacavi rivers as far as the Upper O r i n o c o , and in the regions near to the mouth o f the Casiquiare river, w h e r e mansonelliasis has previously b e e n reported ( B e a v e r et al, 1 9 7 6 ) . Overlapping o f both species, a n d consequently multiple infection, occurs in the regions o f the Temi, Atacavi, Autana, Cuao a n d Cataniapo rivers. Mémoire Parasite, 2 0 0 0 , 7, 7 1 - 7 6 MANSONELLIASES IN SOUTHERN VENEZUELA M. ozzardi Vegetation types Transition amazonian Caatinga/Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest Low lands Pluvial Forest with bush Mountainous and basimountainous Pluvial Forest Rocky semideciduous Forest alisio type Savannah with Riverside Forest Semideciduous Forest alisio type 1 2 Prevalence A. den. 1 M. perstans Inf. Ind. 2 Prevalence A. den. Inf. ind. 13.16 1.91 0.25 88.16 467.29 411.29 9.40 2.35 4.08 2.43 0.44 1.44 0.23 0.01 0.06 0.00 4.71 7.84 0.00 1.14 33.04 0.00 0.05 2.59 1.96 3.33 71.21 0.58 5.42 193.91 0.01 0.18 138.08 15.03 0.00 0.00 31.27 0.00 0.00 4.70 0.00 0.00 Absolute density. Infection Index. Table IV. — Values of qualitative criteria of Mansonella spp. according with the types of vegetation. T h e quantitative criteria o f prevalence, absolute den sity and infection index calculated for M. perstans evi d e n c e d a high correlation to precipitation in e a c h locality, rainfall being the most influential environ mental variable for the transmission o f this species. This is probably due to the conditions required b y the vector: in relative humidity or continuous rain, seasonal effects are eliminated, which produces a more efficient, ongoing transmission o f the filaria. In the c a s e o f M. ozzardi the correlation is with alti tude: in other words, the most effective vectors for transmitting this s p e c i e s are found in localities in higher regions. With respect to types o f vegetation, transmission o f M. perstans is most favoured b y Amazonian caatinga transition in lowland pluvial forest, while M. ozzardi is favoured b y alisio-type semi-deciduous forest. T h e s e results confirm that the two species o f Manso nella require different environmental conditions for their transmission, and probably have different vectors in natural conditions. Laboratory studies reveal that Culicoides spp. and Simulium spp. can act as vectors for M. ozzardi (Tidwell & Tidwell, 1 9 8 2 ) . In natural conditions it is likely that Simulium is the vector for M. ozzardi and Culicoides for M. perstans. It is supported by field observations, in localities with d o m i n a n c e o f M. ozzardi, species o f Simulium w e r e abundant and in localities with domi n a n c e o f M. perstans, Culicoides ever w e r e present. Larvae and pupae o f Simulidae need fast runing waters (Wygodzinsky & Coscaron, 1 9 8 9 ) as usually are in loca lities in higher regions w e r e M. ozzardi is dominant. In conclusion, mansonelliases is widespread in Amazonas State, the main focuses in the localities studied being situated o n the Temi and Atacavi rivers and the Upper Ventuari, with M. ozzardi having a wider dis tribution than M. perstans. T h e latter species evidences a greater transmission rate in areas o f higher rainfall, Parasite, 2 0 0 0 , 7, 7 1 - 7 6 while the transmission o f M. ozzardi is favoured b y higher altitude. T h e two species also evidence diffe rent transmission rates with respect to the types o f vegetation studied, probably b e c a u s e the respective types o f vegetation favour the development o f the cor responding vectors for these filariae. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS W e would like to thank Miguel Conde, Mayila Garcia and Manuel Bolivar for their help in the laboratory and with field work; Carlos Noguera for his advice and suggestions; Dr Carlos Botto for his support in the last stages o f this work; and Tibisay Rangel for her help and collaboration at all times. 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