Abstract

NOYA-ALARCON, Oscar et al. First record of Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille, 1811) in the municipalities of Atures and Alto Orinoco, Amazonas State, Venezuela. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2011, vol.51, n.1, pp.81-85. ISSN 1690-4648.

The importance of Panstrongylus geniculatus as an urban and rural vector of Chagas Disease is increasing in the northern part of South America, particularly in Venezuela where it is widely distributed in its territory. However, in the Amazonas state, the second largest in Venezuela, its presence has only been reported in the Rio Negro Municipality. A Panstrongylus geniculatus triatomine has been captured in the dwellings of a Piaroa indigenous community, called Betania de Topocho in the Municipality of Atures. A second triatomine of the same species was collected in Parima B, a Yanomami indigenous community, located in the Municipality of Alto Orinoco, Amazonas State, Venezuela. No parasites were found in the gut contents of both triatomines. However Trypanosoma cruzi DNA, was detected by molecular techniques in the second specimen. We discuss the epidemiological significance of these findings in terms of the possible role in the transmission of Chagas disease in this region.

Keywords : Panstrongylus geniculatus; Trypanosoma cruzi; Chagas Disease; Amazonas; Venezuela.