<i>Triatoma dimidiata capitata</i>, a natural vector of <i>Trypanosoma rangeli</I> in Colombia

Abstract

Triatoma dimidiata capilata were abundant in houses of the village San Joaquín (Dept. Santander), Colombia. Five of these triatomids presented salivary gland infestation with Trypanosoma rangeli. Two showed hemofymph infection and 8 showed intestinal infection with crithidiae of T. rangeli. Mice bitten by naturally infected triatomids became infected with T. rangeli. The flagellates were easy to cultivate in diphasic blood agar media, and able to produce salivary gland infection in Rhodnius prolixtus. An U.S. citizen frequently bitten by the triatomids in San Joaquín presented infection with T. rangeli