title: Density-dependent timing of defaecation by Rhodnius prolixus, and its implications for the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi is crucially dependent on the timing of defaecation by their insect vectors. Experimental studies on Rhodnius prolixus nymphs revealed a negative correlation between blood meal weight and defaecation time. Bugs which fed to repletion defaecated on average 7 min after feeding, whereas bugs with interrupted feeds defaecated about 1 h later. As blood meal weight of triatomine bugs is density-dependent, these results suggest that the greatest risk of successful T. cruzi transmission would occur in recently colonized houses where the bug population is still increasing, or in houses recolonized after a vector control attempt.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission*; D003672:Defecation; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014225:Triatominae / Q000502:physiology*