Feeding Patterns of <I>Triatoma longipennis</I> Usinger (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) in Peridomestic Habitats of a Rural Community in Jalisco State, Mexico

Abstract

We analyzed triatomine blood feeding patterns to evaluate the role of peridomiciles in Trypanosoma cruzi transmission at the rural village of Tepehuaje de Morelos at Jalisco State, Mexico (1999). A total of 206 bugs were collected in 11 out of 26 households (42.3%). Nymphs predominated in the collections (64.9% of the total). Except for one Triatoma barberi female, a species that belongs to the protracta species complex, all adults were Triatoma longipennis, a species of the phyllosoma complex. Triatomines were exclusively present in peridomestic sites mainly piles of tiles and bricks, and none were found indoors. Overall infection rate was 56.6% and no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between nymphs and adults or males and females. Identified blood meals were chicken (29.4%), opossum (20.9%), pig (24.5%), murid (20.9%), dog (3.5%), and armadillo (0.7%). No gut content reacted against anti-human, anti-bovine, anti-rabbit, and anti-cat sera. In contrast to fifth nymphs and adults, 87% of the small nymphs fed on one host, indicating that they are less mobile than other stages. Most fifth nymphs and adults fed on domestic hosts, while small nymphs mainly fed on opossum and murid. Infection blood-meal indexes were around 50% for single meals on opossum and murid, stressing their importance as trypanosome donors. Peridomiciles in Tepehuaje could be regarded as interaction sites among domestic and wild and synanthropic mammals and triatomines, which would facilitate circulation of the same T. cruzi strains between domestic and sylvatic cycles. Stone-made walls and building materials, which hold synanthropic rodents and opossums, should be considered as targets for vector control measures.

Molecular Identification of Food Sources in Triatomines in the Brazilian Northeast: Roles of Goats and Rodents in Chagas Disease Epidemiology

“…The determination of Tropidurus oreadicus, a lizard from central region of Brazil, is probably feeding on Tropidurus semitaeniatus, which is widely distributed in the study region, 18 without cytb sequences in the GeneBank though. Some authors 16,19,20 had already evidenced this triatomine behavior, stating that the presence of lizards may help to keep infestations, especially in the absence of warmblooded animals.…”

Vigilancia de la presencia de triatominos mediante gallineros en el sur de Jalisco, México

“…Por otra parte, si bien Triatoma barberi (Usinger, 1939) se considera un vector secundario en el área (7,(10)(11)(12), sus altos porcentajes de infección por T. cruzi (13,14) lo hacen un vector merecedor de vigilancia.…”

“…Ambas especies se han encontrado muy asociadas con gallinas y pollos (6)(7)(8)11), asociación aparentemente benéfica, corroborada por los parámetros biológicos favorables para M. longipennis, obtenidos al ser alimentada esta especie en gallina, en condiciones de laboratorio (15,16).…”

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

“…included humans, domestic dogs, rabbits, sheep, opossums, pigs, multiple rodent and bat species, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, lizards, and other insects 2,3,11,13,16,17,23 . This list includes important T. cruzi reservoirs for the peridomestic cycle of Chagas disease, such as domestic dogs, guinea pigs, and humans 7,10,16,17 .…”

“…Traditionally, serologic techniques, such as immunodiffusion, double gel diffusion, and precipitin tests have been used to identify the animal species of a blood meal source 3,11,23,24 . These assays require anti-sera against specific groups or species of animals.…”