title: Susceptibility of different Rhodnius species (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) to a Brazilian strain of Trypanosoma rangeli (SC58/KP1-).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Specific host-parasite associations have been detected experimentally and suggest that triatomines of the genus Rhodnius act as biological filters in the transmission of Trypanosoma rangeli .
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the susceptibility of four Rhodnius species ( Rhodnius robustus , Rhodnius neglectus , Rhodnius nasutus and Rhodnius pictipes ) to a Brazilian strain of T. rangeli (SC-58/KP1-).
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected t hirty nymphs of each species, which were fed on blood infected with T. rangeli . Periodically, samples of feces and hemolymph were analyzed. Triatomines with T. rangeli in their hemolymph were fed on mice to check for transmission by bites. Later, the triatomines were dissected to confirm salivary gland infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specimens of R. pictipes showed higher rates of intestinal infection compared to the other three species. Epimastigotes and trypomastigotes were detected in hemolymph of four species; however, parasitism was lower in the species of the R. robustus lineage. Rhodnius robustus and R. neglectus specimens did not transmit T. rangeli by bite; after dissection, their glands were not infected. Only one specimen of R. nasutus and two of R. pictipes transmitted the parasite by bite. The rate of salivary gland infection was 16% for R. pictipes and 4% for R. nasutus .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both infectivity (intestinal, hemolymphatic and glandular) and transmission of T. rangeli (SC58/KP1-) were greater and more efficient in R. pictipes. These results reinforce the hypothesis that these triatomines may act as biological filters in the transmission of T. rangeli .
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barreto-Santana
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santos-Schuenker
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline Rosa da
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gurgel-Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cesar Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cuba-Cuba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000469:parasitology*; D057509:Trypanosoma rangeli / Q000502:physiology*