Natural Infection of Triatoma heidemanni with Trypanosoma cruzi in Texas

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Abstract
This reduviid bug, popularly known as "blood sucker," "Mexican bed bug," and "kissing bug," collected in or around dwellings in Temple, Tex., was found to be naturally infected with T. cruzi. It has already become a household pest in certain localities and represents a potential vector for spreading Chagas'' disease. The strain of T. cruzi collected in Temple produced infection in monkeys (Macacus rhesus), mice (Mus musculus), American deer mice (Peromyscus e. eremicus, P. leucopus noveboracensis, P. polionotus polionotus), rats .(Rattus norvegicus), and guinea-pigs. Cultural tests proved fruitful. Out of 49 cultural attempts from experimentally infected animals, 42 gave positive cultures in vitro. The subcultures of the Temple strain of T. cruzi have been maintained in vitro for over a year and are still infective to susceptible test animals. 64 animals, which were inoculated with the intestinal contents of Triatoma heidemanni or trypanosomes derived therefrom, were sacrificed at various intervale. Histopathological studies in these animals revealed 11 cases of intracellular leishmania forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. These forms were found in cardiac muscle fibers (7 times), in skeletal muscles (5 times), and in scattered fat cells (once).

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