ABSTRACT
Rhodnius neivai was as efficient as Rhodnius prolixus and Rhodnius robustus in transmitting by bite a Colombian strain of Trypanosoma rangeli following its inoculation into the hemocoel. Under conditions of the study the strain of T. rangeli had a high and constant infectivity to the salivary glands of R. prolixus, its natural vector in Colombia. Six species of Triatoma and Dipetalogaster maximus likewise inoculated did not develop metatrypomastigotes in the salivary glands. Of the 12 known species of Rhodnius, R. neivai is the eight to be demonstrated as an anterior station vector of T. rangeli.
Subject(s)
Insect Vectors/parasitology , Rhodnius/parasitology , Triatominae/parasitology , Trypanosomiasis/transmission , Animals , Hemolymph/parasitology , Insect Bites and Stings , Mice , Salivary Glands/parasitology , Species Specificity , Trypanosoma/physiologyABSTRACT
Examination of blood films for trypanosomes in primates housed at the Tulane University Delta Regional Primate Research Center showed that 47% (32/68) of the Bolivian Saimiri sciureus and 51% (68/135) of Brazilian Saguinus mistax harbored one or more types: Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi in 6% to 7% and Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) spp. or Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) spp. in 39% and 45%, respectively. Trypanosomes were isolated from a sample of the infected monkeys and morphobiological studies were carried out. Both T. cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli were demonstrated. The transmission of T. rangeli by Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius neglectus, and Triatoma infestans was assessed: only R. prolixus transmitted the infection by bite. T. rangeli has not been found previously in Bolivia, nor has any trypanosome been reported previously in Saguinus mistax.
