Synanthropic triatomines as potential vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in Central Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Thaís Tâmara Castro Minuzzi-Souza, Nadjar Nitz, César Augusto Cuba Cuba, Marcelo Santalucia, Monique Knox, Luciana Hagström, Camilla Bernardes Furtado, Tamires Emanuele Vital, Marcos Takashi Obara, Mariana Machado Hecht, Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Triatominae; Brazilian Central-West region; Trypanosomatids; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0199-2017; https://doaj.org/article/f56ff255bfda42b1a52170795d25b2c1

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease surveillance requires current knowledge on synanthropic triatomines. We analyzed the occurrence and Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates of triatomine bugs in central Brazil, during 2012-2014. METHODS: Triatomines were collected inside or around houses, and T. cruzi infection was determined by optical microscopy and conventional/quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of the 2706 triatomines collected, Triatoma sordida was the most frequent species in Goiás State, whereas Panstrongylus megistus predominated in the Federal District. Parasites identified were T. cruzi, T. rangeli, and Blastocrithidia sp. CONCLUSIONS: P. megistus and T. sordida sustained the risk of T. cruzi transmission to humans in central Brazil.