title: Trypanosoma cruzi -infected Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Nuevo León, México, and pathogenicity of the regional strain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Four species of triatomines have been reported in Nuevo León, northeast (NE) México, but Triatoma gerstaeckeri has only been recorded from a peridomestic dwelling.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the natural infection index (NII) of Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomines and the infestation index (II) of T. gerstaeckeri collected in a suburban locality, and to collect histopathological data to understand tissue tropism of the regional T. cruzi strain (strain NE) obtained from the vectors collected after an experimental inoculation in Mus musculus .
  
  
  METHODS
  Triatomines were collected from 85 houses and peridomiciles in Allende, Nuevo León. Stool samples were obtained to determine the T. cruzi NII and were used in an experimental mice infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 118 T . gerstaeckeri were captured, and 46 (adults and nymphs) were collected inside the same house (II=1.17%). Thirty-seven reduvids were infected with T. cruzi (NII=31.3%). Tissue tropism of the T. cruzi NE strain was progressive in skeletal muscle, myocardial, and adipose tissues and was characterized by the presence of intracellular amastigotes and destruction of cardiac myocells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of naturally infected domiciliary vectors is an important risk factor for public health in the region considering that these vectors are the principal transmission mechanism of the parasite. The T. cruzi NE strain has similar virulence to that of other Mexican and Texan strains and caused chagasic infections in 11 of 12 mice.
authors: Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Zinnia J
authors: ZJ
authors: Molina-Garza
authors: Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Mercado-Hernández
authors: Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Daniel P
authors: DP
authors: Molina-Garza
authors: Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, México.
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Galaviz-Silva
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D006798:Housing; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology; D014224:Triatoma / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence