Studies on trypanosoma rangeli tejera, 1920 X-its comparison with trypanosoma cruzi chagas, 1909. Infection in differents stages of rhodnius prolixus stal, 1859

ABSTRACT

The comparison among specimens of Rhodnius prolixus, at different stages of development, exposed to infections by Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi, revealed that the bugs exposed to T.cruzi showed a significant higher susceptibility to infection than that observed in the groups to T.rangeli or to the mixture of both parasites. The similar mortality rate recorded in uninfected and T.cruzi infected bugs confirms that this parasite is hermless to R.prolixus. On the other hand, T.rengeli produces its pathological effect although existence of a direct relation between the amount of ingested parasites and the mortality produced. In mixed infetion, T.cruzi does not inhibit the harmful effect of T.rangeli on R.prolixus. The life cycle of R.prolixus is not affected by high infection of T.cruzi or low infection by T.rangeli in mixed infections, the time to reach the adult stage in relation to controls, was significantly longer. The epidemiological significance of the present results, is discussed