Trypanosoma cruzi strains from triatomine collected in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

OBJECTIVE

Collection of triatomines in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic environmentsin states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, Northeastern and Southern Brazilrespectively, and isolation of Trypanosoma cruzistrains.

METHODS

First, the captured triatomines were identified using insect identificationkeys, then their intestinal content was examined by abdominal compression,and the samples containing trypanosomatid forms were inoculated in LITmedium and Swiss mice.

RESULTS

Six triatomine species were collected in cities in Bahia, namelyPanstrongylus geniculatus (01), Triatomamelanocephala (11), T. lenti (94), T.pseudomaculata (02), T. sherlocki (26) andT. sordida (460), and two in cities in Rio Grande doSul, namely T. circummaculata (11) and T.rubrovaria (115). Out of the specimens examined, T.cruzi was isolated from 28 triatomine divided into fourdifferent species: T. melanocephala (one), T.lenti (one), T. rubrovaria (16) and T.sordida (10). Their index of natural infection by T.cruzi was 6.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The isolation of T. cruzi strains from triatomines found indomestic and peridomestic areas shows the potential risk of transmission ofChagas disease in the studied cities. The maintenance of those T.cruzi strains in laboratory is intended to promote studies thatfacilitate the understanding of the parasite-vector-host relationship.