Dispersal of Triatoma infestans and other Triatominae species in the arid Chaco of Argentina: Flying, walking or passive carriage? The importance of walking females
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
106(2): 232-239, Mar. 2011. ilus, graf, mapas, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-583951
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper was to analyse the active dispersal of Triatoma infestans and the role of chickens as passive carriers of this insect in peridomestic areas of La Rioja, Argentina. To measure active dispersal, monthly catches were made on six consecutive nights for five months (in the warm season) using light traps (for flying insects) and sticky dispersal barriers (for walking insects). The nutritional and reproductive states of adults were evaluated. Over the course of the sampling period, a total of eight flying adults, six walking nymphs and 10 walking adults of the species T. infestans were captured, as well as specimens of Triatoma guasayana, Triatoma eratyrusiformis and Triatoma platensis. Our data demonstrate for the first time that females of T. infestans can disperse by walking. This may be an adaptive strategy because it allows them to move with eggs and/or with good blood reserves, which are not possible when flying. All flying and walking individuals of both genders were of an appropriate physiological state that would allow for colonisation of the target habitat. However, manual inspection of 122 chickens suggests that it is unlikely that these animals passively transport T. infestans. Finally, the dispersal activity of T. infestans was compared with other triatomines using a dispersion index.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Triatoma
/
Insect Vectors
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Argentina
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Argentina
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja/AR
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS