[Tripano-triatomine infection of Triatoma spinolai in a zone with epidemiological risk].
BACKGROUND
Triatoma spinolai is the only wild vector for Chagas disease in Chile and its epidemiological importance is being studied.


OBJECTIVE
To study the proportion of insects infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (tripano-triatomine index) in a zone with epidemiological risk in the Metropolitan Region of Chile.


METHODS
Four hundred ninety two specimens of Triatoma spinolai were collected in four sites of a quarry zone, 14 kilometers north of Santiago. Their maturity and the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in their intestinal contents were determined.


RESULTS
Mean tripano-triatomine index was 26.02 +/- 2% (range 0 to 34% in different sites). The proportion of infected insects increased along with their maturity and 58% of adult specimens were infected. There was a seasonal variation of the proportion of infected specimens, being lower in March and June and higher in July and February.


CONCLUSIONS
The studied zone has a potential epidemiological risk for the transmission of Chagas disease by Triatoma spinolai.
Ordenes
H
H
Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Ehrenfeld
M
M
Cattan
P E
PE
Canals
M
M
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D002677:Chile; D007303:Insect Vectors; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014224:Triatoma / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification*