title: The development of Blastocrithidia triatomae (Trypanosomatidae) in the reduviid bug Triatoma infestans (Insecta): influence of feeding.
abstract: The population density and composition of an established infection of Blastocrithidia triatomae in the intestinal tract of fifth instars of Triatoma infestans were compared in unfed bugs, at 4 h and up to 15 days after feeding, and also in feces and urine deposited in the first 4 h after feeding. In unfed bugs, about 1-2 million B. triatomae colonized the small intestine and rectum, mainly epimastigotes (85% and 80%, respectively). During excretion, the percentage of cysts increased within the first two drops (from 15% to 35%) and then decreased slowly, indicating a washing-out of these unattached stages. The initial reduction in the B. triatomae population lasted up to 6 days after feeding. By 15 days after feeding, the populations had strongly increased in the small intestine and rectum, to 22 million and 2 million flagellates, respectively, as had cysts, comprising some 50% of the total population in the rectum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Zoology, Ruhr University, 44780, Bochum, Germany. astrid.kollien@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Astrid H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kollien
authors.forename: Günter A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schaub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology; D012007:Rectum / Q000469:parasitology; D013997:Time Factors; D014224:Triatoma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D014351:Trypanosomatina / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism