title: Trypanosoma cruzi strains from triatomine collected in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Collection of triatomines in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic environments in states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Northeastern and Southern Brazil respectively, and isolation of Trypanosoma cruzi strains.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, the captured triatomines were identified using insect identification keys, then their intestinal content was examined by abdominal compression, and the samples containing trypanosomatid forms were inoculated in LIT medium and Swiss mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six triatomine species were collected in cities in Bahia, namely Panstrongylus geniculatus (01), Triatoma melanocephala (11), T. lenti (94), T. pseudomaculata (02), T. sherlocki (26) and T. sordida (460), and two in cities in Rio Grande do Sul, namely T. circummaculata (11) and T. rubrovaria (115). Out of the specimens examined, T. cruzi was isolated from 28 triatomine divided into four different species: T. melanocephala (one), T. lenti (one), T. rubrovaria (16) and T. sordida (10). Their index of natural infection by T. cruzi was 6.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The isolation of T. cruzi strains from triatomines found in domestic and peridomestic areas shows the potential risk of transmission of Chagas disease in the studied cities. The maintenance of those T. cruzi strains in laboratory is intended to promote studies that facilitate the understanding of the parasite-vector-host relationship.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline Rimoldi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vagner José
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Renata Tomé
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: Renato Freitas de
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: João Aristeu
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: da Rosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D014225:Triatominae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*