Wild Ecotopes and Food Habits of Triatoma longipennis Infected by Trypanosoma cruzi Lineages I and II in Mexico

Abstract

The control of wild triatomine populations that can invade dwellings is a major challenge for Chagas disease control in Mexico, but a better knowledge of the biology of these populations is required to develop appropriate control methods. We describe a new terrestrial ecotope of Triatoma longipennis, a principal vector in the occidental part of Mexico, in addition to its previously identified niche in rock pile boundary walls. Analysis of feeding hosts in the two ecotopes showed that this species is able to diversify its food sources outside of the principal hosts, Dasypus novemcinctus and Procyon lotor, and to disperse in search of new meals. Moreover, T. longipennis are strongly infected not only by the Trypanosoma cruzi I lineage found in the domestic cycle, but also by T. cruzi lineage II. The impact of T. cruzi II on human infection remains to be determined.