Eco-epidemiological aspects of Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma rangeli and their vector (Rhodnius pallescens) in Panama.

Autor: Vasquez AM; Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES), Panama, Republic of Panama., Samudio FE, Saldaña A, Paz HM, Calzada JE
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo [Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo] 2004 Jul-Aug; Vol. 46 (4), pp. 217-22. Date of Electronic Publication: 2004 Sep 03.
DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652004000400008
Abstrakt: The eco-epidemiology of T. cruzi infection was investigated in the Eastern border of the Panama Canal in Central Panama. Between 1999 and 2000, 1110 triatomines were collected: 1050 triatomines (94.6%) from palm trees, 27 (2.4%) from periurban habitats and 33 (3.0%) inside houses. All specimens were identified as R. pallescens. There was no evidence of vector domiciliation. Salivary glands from 380 R. pallescens revealed a trypanosome natural infection rate of 7.6%, while rectal ampoule content from 373 triatomines was 45%. Isoenzyme profiles on isolated trypanosomes demonstrated that 85.4% (n = 88) were T. cruzi and 14.6% (n = 15) were T. rangeli. Blood meal analysis from 829 R. pallescens demonstrated a zoophilic vector behavior, with opossums as the preferential blood source. Seroprevalence in human samples from both study sites was less than 2%. Our results demonstrate that T. cruzi survives in the area in balanced association with R. pallescens, and with several different species of mammals in their natural niches. However, the area is an imminent risk of infection for its population, consequently it is important to implement a community educational program regarding disease knowledge and control measures.
Databáze: MEDLINE