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Background <p>Invasive rats (<i>Rattus rattus</i> and <i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) are recognized hosts of zoonotic pathogens, including <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, in human-modified landscapes. However, their role in non-domestic transmission cycles remains poorly understood, particularly in Mediterranean ecosystems near the southern limit of endemic Chagas disease. Here, we assessed the prevalence of <i>T. cruzi</i> infection in invasive rats across rural and natural habitats of central Chile.</p> Methods <p>Rodents were live-trapped in rural (non-peridomestic) and natural habitats during seasonal campaigns conducted between 2023 and 2025. Blood samples from invasive rats captured at 31 sites were screened for <i>T. cruzi</i> DNA using real-time PCR targeting parasite satellite DNA.</p> Results <p>A total of 789 invasive rats were analyzed, representing one of the most extensive molecular screenings of <i>Rattus</i> spp. conducted in rural and natural habitats of central Chile. Overall infection prevalence was extremely low (0.25%; 95% CI: 0.07–0.92%), with positive detections restricted to two <i>R. rattus</i> individuals captured in autumn within natural habitats. This low prevalence was consistent across habitats and seasons.</p> Conclusions <p>Invasive rats appear to play a limited role in non-domestic transmission under the ecological conditions surveyed and are unlikely to reliably reflect local parasite circulation. One plausible explanation is potentially limited spatial overlap between invasive rat populations and areas where sylvatic vectors are most abundant, although this requires empirical verification through concurrent vector surveys. These findings provide baseline evidence on the epidemiological role of invasive rats in Mediterranean ecosystems and may inform ecologically grounded surveillance strategies within a One Health framework.</p>

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Low detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in invasive Rattus spp. across rural and natural habitats in central Chile

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月18日

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  • Daniela Elizondo,
  • Rodrigo Salgado,
  • Cristian Herrera,
  • Gabriela Gaona,
  • Gemma Rojo,
  • Nélida R. Villaseñor,
  • Ananda Müller,
  • Francisco Chacón,
  • André V. Rubio

摘要

Background

Invasive rats (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) are recognized hosts of zoonotic pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, in human-modified landscapes. However, their role in non-domestic transmission cycles remains poorly understood, particularly in Mediterranean ecosystems near the southern limit of endemic Chagas disease. Here, we assessed the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in invasive rats across rural and natural habitats of central Chile.

Methods

Rodents were live-trapped in rural (non-peridomestic) and natural habitats during seasonal campaigns conducted between 2023 and 2025. Blood samples from invasive rats captured at 31 sites were screened for T. cruzi DNA using real-time PCR targeting parasite satellite DNA.

Results

A total of 789 invasive rats were analyzed, representing one of the most extensive molecular screenings of Rattus spp. conducted in rural and natural habitats of central Chile. Overall infection prevalence was extremely low (0.25%; 95% CI: 0.07–0.92%), with positive detections restricted to two R. rattus individuals captured in autumn within natural habitats. This low prevalence was consistent across habitats and seasons.

Conclusions

Invasive rats appear to play a limited role in non-domestic transmission under the ecological conditions surveyed and are unlikely to reliably reflect local parasite circulation. One plausible explanation is potentially limited spatial overlap between invasive rat populations and areas where sylvatic vectors are most abundant, although this requires empirical verification through concurrent vector surveys. These findings provide baseline evidence on the epidemiological role of invasive rats in Mediterranean ecosystems and may inform ecologically grounded surveillance strategies within a One Health framework.