Investigation of the triatomine (Hemiptera: Triatominae) fauna and its infection by Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), in an area with an outbreak of Chagas disease in the Brazilian South-Western Amazon

Abstract

The present study aims to describe the occurrence of triatomines and their infection rate by Trypanosoma cruzi, in an area of Chagas disease outbreak in Rodrigues Alves municipality, Acre state, Brazil. Collections were performed by passive search (capture of specimens by local people) and dissection of palm trees (Attalea butyracea and Mauritia flexuosa). Thirty two triatomines belonging to four species grouped into two genera (Rhodnius and Eratyrus) had T. cruzi infection rate of 15.6%. Only in A. butyracea triatomines were captured. The passive search was the most effective method for collection. The Nova Cintra triatomine fauna comprises four species and it is important to carry out future studies to understand the biology of these triatomines.

Keywords

• chagas disease vectors
• trypanosomatids
• medical entomology
• chagas disease and the amazon