The interaction between Poultry and Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in an experimental model

Abstract

This paper compares the predation pressure that ducks and chickens exert on triatomines. For the tests, these birds were placed in individual boxes together with a known number of Triatoma infestans and left to interact from 6 p.m. till the next morning, involving a long lasting period of complete darkness limited by two short-term periods of semi-darkness. There was a shelter which could prevent the bugs from being predated. The number of live and dead triatomines was recorded, considering missing bugs as predated by the birds. Ducks exhibited a greater predatory activity than chickens, that could be due to a long term active period at night while chickens sleep motionless from sunset to dawn. Surviving triatomines that had fed on chickens outnumbered those fed on ducks suggesting that these were less accessible to the triatomine biting. If ducks are better than chickens to detect and eat bugs and to interfere with their feeding in the field, an increase in duck number might help to diminish triatomine density. Further research is needed to determine the feasibility of application of these experimental results.

Host-Seeking Behavior and Dispersal of Triatoma infestans, a Vector of Chagas Disease, under Semi-field Conditions

“…Remaining near a previously present food source may also be an advantageous strategy in areas where foraging for new food sources carries a high cost. Triatomine insects have a number of nocturnal predators such as geckos [44] , rodents [45] , and spiders [46] , and diurnal predators such as chickens [47] , dogs [48] , and cats [48] . In addition to the risks of predation, seeking new food sources might expose triatomine insects to desiccation, as occurs with other hemiptera insects [49] , and possibly deplete the insects' energy stores, as suggested by the observations of Abraham et al [50] who found that flying T. infestans had a poorer nutritional status than those captured close to animal corrals.…”

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

“…Estas asociaciones de especies de triatominos con aves son similares a las reportadas en Suramérica para especies de esa región, donde los gallineros han tenido un papel preponderante en la domiciliación de las poblaciones de triatominos (18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Si bien se ha probado exitosamente el uso de trampas cebadas con ratas y cubiertas con tela adhesiva para la vigilancia de triatominos en Jalisco (7), la dificultad en conseguir el cebo y la tela hacían necesaria la búsqueda de otro método más sencillo para los moradores del área.…”

Alteration of the aggregation and spatial organization of the vector of Chagas disease, Triatoma infestans, by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi

“…Several hypotheses can be proposed. On the one hand, a higher negative geotaxis can help to maintain the insect vector away from ground predators (mainly rodents 24,81 , and as suggested by experiments ducks and chicken 24,36,82 , and dogs 83 in the case of domiciliated species like T. infestans ), facilitate the triatomine mate-finding 81 ensuring the reproduction of the insect vector as it was shown in cockroaches 84 , and amplify the formation of clusters by increasing the local densities of individuals. On the other hand, a stronger aggregation can improve the fitness of the triatomine through the reduction of the stress/energy consumption as it was demonstrated in various insects and discussed above.…”