Vampire bats in Belize harbor multiple Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes: Implications for parasite transmission at the wildlife–domestic–human interface
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Tropical Medicine, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- 2Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- 3School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- 4Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- 5Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
Abstract
Background: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease with complex sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles involving vectors, mammalian hosts, and humans. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is an obligate blood-feeding species that frequently interacts with livestock and humans, yet their role in parasite maintenance in Central America remains poorly characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed 207 blood samples from vampire bats collected at two sites in northern Belize over three years (2019, 2021, 2022). PCR screening revealed an overall T. cruzi prevalence of 41.5% and increasing infection risks over time. The amplicon-based next-generation sequencing of the parasite mini-exon locus identified 36 unique haplotypes belonging to five DTUs: TcI, TcIV, TcV, TcVI, and TcBat. TcBat was present in half of the samples sequenced. TcBat and TcVI were detected in Belize for the first time. Belizean TcBat haplotypes clustered closely with Colombian reference sequences and a subset formed a Belize-specific clade, indicating previously unrecognized TcBat diversity in the region; in contrast, Brazilian TcBat sequences were more distantly related. Conclusions/Significance: Vampire bats in Belize harbor diverse T. cruzi genotypes, including DTUs with established roles in human disease. Given their obligate blood diet, frequent feeding on livestock, and occasional biting of humans, vampire bats may serve as bridge hosts linking sylvatic, domestic, and human transmission cycles. Together with a recent report of an acute human Chagas disease case in northern Belize, these results underscore the need for integrated One Health surveillance of bats, vectors, livestock, and humans to better evaluate and mitigate the risk of Chagas disease in Central America. Author summary: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health concern in the Americas but remains neglected in many regions, including Central America. The parasite is typically transmitted by kissing bugs, but wild mammals also serve as important hosts. Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are unique because they feed exclusively on blood and frequently bite livestock, and occasionally humans, creating opportunities for parasite transmission across different environments. In this study, we screened 207 vampire bats from northern Belize and found that over 40% were infected with T. cruzi. By sequencing parasite DNA, we discovered a surprising diversity of DTUs, including TcI, TcIV, TcV, TcVI, and TcBat. The detection of TcVI is particularly important because this DTU, associated with human infections in South America, had not been previously reported in Belize. TcBat haplotypes were highly prevalent and genetically diverse. Our results show that vampire bats are important hosts harboring diverse T. cruzi genotypes in Belize and may act as bridge hosts between wildlife, livestock, and human transmission cycles. Enhanced One Health surveillance across vectors, bats, domestic animals, and humans will be critical for understanding and preventing Chagas disease emergence in Central America.
Related
- A high-throughput compound screen identifies multiple druggable targets in Plasmodium falciparum transmission stages
- A trans-splicing model for poly(A)-tail addition during VSG mRNA maturation in Trypanosoma brucei
- The kinetoplastid-specific transcription factor mtTF1 is essential for mitochondrial gene expression and maxicircle replication in Trypanosoma brucei
- H2A.Z-H2B.V nucleosomes form a specialised scaffold for transcription initiation in Trypanosoma brucei
- A Role for Janus Cyclohexyl Ring Motifs in Medicinal Chemistry. Incorporation Into G-Quadruplex Ligands and Anti-Trypanosoma brucei Activity.
BibTeX
@article{dunsmore2026vampire,
title = {{Vampire bats in Belize harbor multiple Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes: Implications for parasite transmission at the wildlife–domestic–human interface}},
author = {Annalise Dunsmore and Kristin E. Dyer and Lauren R. Lock and Weihong Tu and M. Brock Fenton and Nancy B. Simmons and Eric Dumonteil and Daniel J. Becker and Claudia P. Herrera},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0013852},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0013852},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vampire bats in Belize harbor multiple Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes: Implications for parasite transmission at the wildlife–domestic–human interface
AU - Annalise Dunsmore
AU - Kristin E. Dyer
AU - Lauren R. Lock
AU - Weihong Tu
AU - M. Brock Fenton
AU - Nancy B. Simmons
AU - Eric Dumonteil
AU - Daniel J. Becker
AU - Claudia P. Herrera
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013852
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0013852
AB - Background: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease with complex sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles involving vectors, mammalian hosts, and humans. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is an obligate blood-feeding species that frequently interacts with livestock and humans, yet their role in parasite maintenance in Central America remains poorly characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed 207 blood samples from vampire bats collected at two sites in northern Belize over three years (2019, 2021, 2022). PCR screening revealed an overall T. cruzi prevalence of 41.5% and increasing infection risks over time. The amplicon-based next-generation sequencing of the parasite mini-exon locus identified 36 unique haplotypes belonging to five DTUs: TcI, TcIV, TcV, TcVI, and TcBat. TcBat was present in half of the samples sequenced. TcBat and TcVI were detected in Belize for the first time. Belizean TcBat haplotypes clustered closely with Colombian reference sequences and a subset formed a Belize-specific clade, indicating previously unrecognized TcBat diversity in the region; in contrast, Brazilian TcBat sequences were more distantly related. Conclusions/Significance: Vampire bats in Belize harbor diverse T. cruzi genotypes, including DTUs with established roles in human disease. Given their obligate blood diet, frequent feeding on livestock, and occasional biting of humans, vampire bats may serve as bridge hosts linking sylvatic, domestic, and human transmission cycles. Together with a recent report of an acute human Chagas disease case in northern Belize, these results underscore the need for integrated One Health surveillance of bats, vectors, livestock, and humans to better evaluate and mitigate the risk of Chagas disease in Central America. Author summary: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health concern in the Americas but remains neglected in many regions, including Central America. The parasite is typically transmitted by kissing bugs, but wild mammals also serve as important hosts. Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are unique because they feed exclusively on blood and frequently bite livestock, and occasionally humans, creating opportunities for parasite transmission across different environments. In this study, we screened 207 vampire bats from northern Belize and found that over 40% were infected with T. cruzi. By sequencing parasite DNA, we discovered a surprising diversity of DTUs, including TcI, TcIV, TcV, TcVI, and TcBat. The detection of TcVI is particularly important because this DTU, associated with human infections in South America, had not been previously reported in Belize. TcBat haplotypes were highly prevalent and genetically diverse. Our results show that vampire bats are important hosts harboring diverse T. cruzi genotypes in Belize and may act as bridge hosts between wildlife, livestock, and human transmission cycles. Enhanced One Health surveillance across vectors, bats, domestic animals, and humans will be critical for understanding and preventing Chagas disease emergence in Central America.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -