Experimental Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Animals by Triatoma sanguisuga ambigua

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
T. sanguisuga ambigua, widely distributed in Florida, feeds on tree toads (Hyla) and colonizes in "boots" of palmetto trees. 300 collected in Sarasota were free from Trypansoma cruzi infection. A few contained Eimeria in their intestines, while many had a nonmotile bacterium in their saliva. Tree toads found on palmetto trees were free from Trypanosoma rotatorium, but most of them were infected with Haemo-gregarina. Over 50 persons bitten by Triatoma in C. C. C. camps during 1936-37 manifested various allergic symptoms and occasionally a small abscess, but no indication of trypanosomiasis, by cultural and animal inoculation tests of 10 persons, could be obtained. 85 T. s. ambigua were exp''tally infected with T. cruzi by permitting nymphs and adults ([male][male] and [female][female]) to feed on infected guinea pigs. The eggs of infected Triatoma were free from T. cruzi, and newly hatched nymphs remained free from infection throughout their lives. Transmission to 8 guinea pigs by the bite of 24 infected Triatoma failed when care was taken to prevent fecal contamination. Exp''tally infected bugs produced trypanosomiasis in guinea-pigs when allowed to feed and then deposit feces on the hair-clipped skin. Scanty trypanosomes were seen in the blood, and they were cultured successfully on N. N. media.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: