Avaliação da infecção por Trypanosoma cruzi em triatomíneos em municípios considerados de alto risco de transmissão no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Abstract

The state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) is endemic for Chagas disease, with 36 municipalities at high risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of T. cruzi infected triatomines domiciliary units (UDs) in municipalities at high risk of the parasite transmission in RN, as well as the species diversity in the wild environment. Triatomines were collected in DUs and wild environments, identified, and their intestinal content analyzed by using direct examination, xenoculture, and kDNA PCR for parasite detection. A total of 22 DUs were investigated, 14 in São Tomé and six in Sítio Novo, with the presence of triatomines recorded in 21.4% (3/14) and 16.7% (1/6), respectively. The municipality São Tomé showed a high percentage of infected triatomines, corresponding to 14.2%. In the DUs, 40 triatomines were captured, and the only species identified was Triatoma brasiliensis in both São Tomé and Sítio Novo. The natural infection rate for T. cruzi was 7.5%, with the highest rate in T. brasiliensis (8.8%). In the wild environment, the highest species diversity was found in the ESEC-Seridó, where specimens of T. brasiliensis, Triatoma pseudomaculata, Panstrongylus lutzi, and Triatoma sp. were captured. Triatoma brasiliensis was the most frequently captured species in both ESEC-Seridó and Sítio Novo. These data highlight the importance of continuous surveillance and control in high-risk municipalities to prevent T. cruzi transmission to humans and animals.