title: Feeding profile of Mepraia spinolai, a sylvatic vector of Chagas disease in Chile.
abstract: American trypanosomiasis is a chronic disease transmitted mainly by vectors. The hematophagous triatomine vectors transmit Trypanosoma cruzi to a wide variety of mammals, which usually are their food source. This study determined the feeding profile of Mepraia spinolai, a sylvatic triatomine vector, present in endemic areas of Chile. Vectors were captured in the north-central area of Chile. Samples of intestinal contents were analyzed by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that identifies and discriminates the presence of serum antigens from Homo sapiens and nine animal species (Canis familiaris, Felis catus, Capra hircus, Mus musculus, Gallus gallus, Octodon degus, Thylamys elegans, Phyllotis darwini and Oryctolagus cuniculus). Our data indicate the most frequent feeding source in this area was P. darwini, followed by O. degus, O. cuniculus, M. musculus, G. gallus, T. elegans, C. familiaris, F. catus and C. hircus. Mixed food sources were also identified.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chacón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacigalupo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Quiroga
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: pcattan@uchile.cl.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cattan
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: galiaram@uchile.cl.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Toloza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D014225:Triatominae / Q000254:growth & development*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Chagas disease; Food source; Serum antigens; Sylvatic triatomine