Host influence on the nutritional and reproductive status of Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) peridomiciliary populations

SORIA C; CARDOZO M; CANAVOSO LE; CROCCO LB; NATTERO J; ORTIZ V; LEYRIA J; RODRÍGUEZ C

Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina

Biotaxa/RSEA

Año: 2019 vol. 78 p. 1 - 1

BSTRACT. Triatoma infestans is the main vector of Chagas disease in the southern cone of South America. This species is well adapted to living in rural houses and structures used for housing domestic animals (peridomestic habitats). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the source of blood consumed by adults of T. infestans collected from differentperidomestic habitats from two localities from Cruz del Eje department (Córdoba, Argentina) and their nutritional and reproductive status. In each individual, the ratio between body weight and total body length was used as an indicator of nutritional status (NS). The presence of sperm in spermathecae and the number of chorionated oocytes in ovaries and oviducts were considered indicators of reproductive status (RS) of females. The feeding source in thepromesenteron of male and female insects was identified using anti-chicken, anti-goat, antihuman and anti-dog antisera. Chicken coops were the main peridomestic structure present