Isabel Mayer Andrade

Mrs. Isabel Mayer Andrade


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 February 2025 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
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CVCarolina Valença-Barbosa
Carolina Valença-Barbosa
IAIsabel Mayer Andrade
Isabel Mayer Andrade
FSFellipe Dias Tavares de Simas
Fellipe Dias Tavares de Simas
ONOzorino Caldeira Cruz Neto
Ozorino Caldeira Cruz Neto
NSNilvanei Aparecido da Silva
Nilvanei Aparecido da Silva
RSRita de Cássia Moreira de Souza
Rita de Cássia Moreira de Souza
Triatoma sordida is a native South American species and the most frequently captured triatomine in artificial environments in Brazil. Although considered a secondary vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, it is typically associated with low infection rates. To investigate its role in an endemic area for Chagas disease in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, we employed a multidimensional approach that combined triatomine capture data with quantitative and qualitative analyses of T. cruzi. A total of 1861 T. sordida specimens were captured, of which 1455 were examined and 210 (14.4%) were found to be infected with T. cruzi. The most prevalent discrete typing unit (DTU) was TcI (80%), followed by TcII (8%), TcV (5%), and TcIII (3%). Molecular techniques provided new insights into the ecology of T. sordida, revealing a higher infection rate than previously reported and a parasitic load lower than that observed in other quantified species. Chickens were confirmed as the primary food source, playing an epidemiological role in maintaining infected insects with four T. cruzi DTUs. The observed diversity of T. cruzi DTUs suggests a lack of environmental segregation, likely due to the extensive movement of various host species between wild and domestic habitats, resulting in overlapping transmission cycles.