American trypanosomiasis in British Honduras IV -Laboratory observations on Triatoma dumidiata (Hemiptera Reduviidae) and its efficiency as a vector of Chagas' disease in British Honduras

ABSTRACT

Wild-caught and laboratory-bred Triatoma dimidiata were studied in British Honduras. Newly hatched nymphs were very reluctant to feed in the laboratory, but later instars fed readily. Armadillos and rabbits were the most acceptable hosts; man was unattractive even to starved insects. Nymphs and adults of laboratory fed T.dimidiata were fed on white rats infected with Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi and all acquired gut infections and remained infective for life. T. dimidiata does not defaecate during or immediately after feeding, and it is suggested that infection by direct faecal contamination is most unlikely; the infective faecal material may be carried to a wound, to the conjunctiva of the eye or to the oral or nasal mucosa after the insect has been squashed on the human body.(Summary)