Chagas Disease in the Amazon Basin: Association of Panstrongylus geniculatus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) with Domestic Pigs

Abstract

Just over 100 autochthonous cases of Chagas disease are reported from the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille) occurs throughout the region and is the known vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, principal zymodeme 3 (Z3) to the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. In the small riverine community of Furo do Rio Pau Grande, pigsties adjoining houses were heavily infested with P. geniculatus, which repeatedly attacked local inhabitants. Palm trees in the immediate vicinity were also infested. T. cruzi principal zymodeme 1 (Z1) was isolated from P. geniculatus, domestic pigs, and opossums, but no human infections were detected. The threat of endemic Chagas disease to the Amazon Basin from either domiciliation of local silvatic triatomine species, or from migration of domestic vectors, demands a program of vigilance and plans of action to eliminate household triatomine colonies.

Conocimientos y factores de riesgo relacionados con la enfermedad de Chagas en dos comunidades panameñas donde Rhodnius pallescens es el vector principal

“…El índice de infección natural con T. cruzi de este triatomino es de 60 a 100 % (27), igualando, o incluso superando, al reportado para R. pallescens (3). Se sabe que este triatomino ha sido vinculado con numerosos casos de transmisión oral de la enfermedad de Chagas (27), y con la infestación y colonización de ambientes domésticos (28). Debido a que la ecobiología de este vector es diferente a la de R. pallescens (27), su papel epidemiológico debe investigarse en estas comunidades.…”

Chagas disease: What is known and what should be improved: a systemic review

“…The high gnetic variability of wild T. infestans favours the hipothesis that the Andean were the centre of dispersal of this specie through South America and it adaptation to human dwellings 105 . Wild triatomines approach human peridomestic and domestic areas primarily due to feeding needs, due to deforestation and the distance from their natural sources, which are wild mammals, or when the numbers of these animals become reduced in the natural habitats 106,107 . Sometimes, wild triatomines are attracted by domestic lights or they penetrate the home due to its proximity to palm trees, which occurs frequently in the Amazon region 1,78 .…”

Ocorrência de triatomíneos em ambientes silvestres e domiciliares do município de Manaus, Estado do Amazonas

“…Esta espécie é um importante vetor silvestre 8 , que invade esporadicamente as residências 12 14 20 atraída pela luz 12 e coloniza abrigos de suínos construídos na proximidade ou contíguos com as habitações humanas no Estado do Pará 20 . Nesse contexto, pode contribuir na transmissão domiciliar da doença de Chagas, já que em algumas áreas tem se apresentado com elevadas taxas de infecção natural 5 .…”