Primer hallazgo de vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas asociados a matorrales silvestres en la Región Metropolitana, Chile

• Antonella Bacigalupo B ^[1] ; José A Segura M ^[2] ; Alejandro García C ^[1] ; Javier Hidalgo C ^[1] ; Stephania Galuppo G ^[1] ; Pedro E Cattan ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Chile

     Universidad de Chile

     Santiago, Chile

     
  2. [2] Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud Departamento de Salud Pública Programa de Zoonosis y Vectores
• Localización: Revista Médica de Chile, ISSN-e 0034-9887, Vol. 134, Nº. 10, 2006
• Idioma: español
• Títulos paralelos:
  • First finding of Chagas disease vectors associated with wild bushes in the Metropolitan Region of Chile
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• Resumen

  • Background: Insects of the subfamily triatominae are the biological vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease. Aim: To search for wild colonies of triatomines in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Material and Methods: Ad hoc traps were placed in two endemic zones of the Metropolitan Region of Chile, during 30 nights. The dejections of 16 T infestans and 43 M spinolai specimens were examined under the microscope, searching for live metacyclic trypomastigotes. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in macerates of all insects looking for T cruzi DNA. Results: A total of 269 bugs were captured. Forty four were Triatoma infestans and 225 were Mepraia spinolai. They were not syntopic, since T infestans was restricted to a Southern zone (Calera de Tango) while M spinolai was only found in the Northern zone (Til-Til). Both species were found associated to terrestrial bromeliads (Puya sp) but M spinolai was also detected in stony grounds. Microscopic examination of dejections yielded a trypano-triatomine index of 56.3 and 32.6 for T infestans and M spinolai, respectively. PCR detected T cruzi DNA in 41 and 43% of T infestans and M spinolai specimens, respectively. Conclusions: The finding of T infestans in a wild habitat is noticeable. This is the first report of such phenomenon in Chile. The high infection rates with T cruzi, explains the maintenance of Chagas disease wild cycle in Chile