The sylvatic transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area in the humid Chaco of Argentina

摘要: Little is known about the sylvatic transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in Gran Chaco ecoregion. We conducted surveys to identify main hosts T. cruzi, parasite discrete typing units and vector species involved Pampa del Indio, a rural area humid Argentinean Chaco. A total 44 mammals from 14 were captured examined for infection by xenodiagnosis polymerase chain reaction amplification hyper-variable region kinetoplast DNA minicircles (kDNA-PCR). Ten (22.7%) positive or kDNA-PCR. Four 11 (36%) Didelphis albiventris (white-eared opossums) six nine (67%) Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillos) Rodents, other armadillo species, felids, crab-eating raccoons, hares rabbits not infected. Positive animals highly infectious bugs that fed upon them as determined xenodiagnosis. All opossums infected with I all nine-banded armadillos III. Extensive searches habitats using 718 Noireau trap-nights only yielded Triatoma sordida whereas no bug was collected 26 light-trap nights. fitted spool-and-line device successfully tracked their refuges; one Panstrongylus geniculatus found an burrow. No triatomine microscopical examination Our results indicate two independent cycles occur The putative vectors both need be identified conclusively.