CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

ABSTRACT Chagas disease is the most important endemic arthropod-zoonosis in Argentina with an estimated 1.6 million people infected with the causative agent Trypanosoma cruzi. Triatoma infestans is the main vector of Chagas disease in Argentina. A survey for parasites and pathogens of Triatominae was conducted from August 2002 to February 2005. Collections of insects were made in domiciles, peridomiciles, and in the natural habitats of the Triatominae. Insects from these collections were dissected and their organs and tissues examined for flagelates. Frass from these insects was collected and examined for detection of the entomopathogenic virus Triatoma Virus (TrV) using AC-ELISA and PCR. Triatominae belonging to 4 species, Triatoma infestans (n=1646), T. guasayana (n=4), T. platensis (n=1) and T. sordida (n=5) were collected from 62 sites located in 13 provinces of Argentina. Triatoma Virus and two protozoan species, Blastocrithidia triatomae and T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, were found infecting Triatominae. The total prevalence of TrV in 1646 T. infestans analyzed by ELISA was 9.66% (159/1646) from 7 of 13 provinces where collections were made. Triatoma Virus positive triatomines were found in 17 of 62 populations when examined by AC-ELISA but in 38 of 62 populations when PCR was used for detection. The prevalence of B. triatomae in T. infestans was 0.43% (7/1646), while the prevalence of T. cruzi was 1.3% (21/1646). This is the first study on the diversity, distribution and prevalence of flagellated protozoa and TrV of Triatominae in endemic Chagas disease regions of Argentina. Keywords: Triatominae, Triatoma infestans, Triatoma virus, Blastocrithidia triatomae, Trypanosoma cruzi.