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Low detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in invasive Rattus spp. across rural and natural habitats in central Chile
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Low detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in invasive Rattus spp. across rural and natural habitats in central Chile
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Low detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in invasive Rattus spp. across rural and natural habitats in central Chile
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Journal Article
Low detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in invasive Rattus spp. across rural and natural habitats in central Chile
2026
Overview
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.
