Abstract

CRUZ-GUZMAN, Pedro José et al. Psammolestes arthuri naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi found in sympatry with Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma maculata on bird nests in Anzoátegui state, Venezuela. Saber [online]. 2014, vol.26, n.4, pp.428-440. ISSN 1315-0162.

In Venezuela, Chagas' disease is a public health problem with around 2 million people infected and more than 6 million under risk of infection. In this study the presence of the triatomid Psammolestes arthuri is reported in nests of different species of birds from rural communities of Anzoátegui State, some of them found naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, in sympatry with other species of triatomines (Rhodnius prolixus y Triatoma maculata). A total of 3,277 triatomine specimens were collected in 478 nests from 6 species of birds (Phacellodomus rufifrons, Troglodytes aedon, Icterus icterus, I. nigrogularis, Cacicus cela y Psarocolius decumanus). It was found that 99.05% (3246/3277) of specimens were P. arthuri and 0.95% (31/3277) other triatomine species, from which 0.57% (19/3277) were R. prolixus and 0.37% (12/3277) T. maculata. Only 0.12% (4/3246) of P. arthuri were infected with T. cruzi. The parasitological characterization of one T. cruzi isolate in white male NMRI mice showed high affinity for cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle cells, with a peak parasitemia of 2.4 x 104 parasites/ mL blood stream forms of T. cruzi and 100% mortality of inoculated mice. This isolate was molecularly typed as belonging to TcIII genotype. The results show that in Anzoátegui State, P. arthuri predominantly feed on blood of birds, representing a low risk for vector transmission of Chagas' disease to humans.

Keywords : Hemiptera; Reduviidae; Triatominae; Kinetoplastida; Trypanosomatidae; Aves; Passeriformes.

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