Emerging Chagas Disease: Trophic Network and Cycle of Transmission of<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>from Palm Trees in the Amazon

Abstract

The tropical moist broadleaf forests of Latin America are an important region for conservation of biodiversity (1). In the Amazon Basin (area 8,214,284 km 2 ), blocks of original habitat are still intact, while some ecoregions 1 are almost completely converted or degraded, allowing major components of biodiversity to steadily erode (1,2). Populations of several endangered wildlife species have declined, and human habitat and land use are considered a threat to most native species and communities.