Rhodnius prolixus impairs Trypanosoma cruzi growth through cold-seeking behavioral thermoregulation.

ABSTRACT: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major neglected tropical disease affecting 6-7 million people worldwide. Rhodnius prolixus, one of the most important vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America, is known to be highly sensitive to environmental temperature, which influences both its biology and parasite development. However, few studies have investigated how this vector behaviorally modulates the effects of temperature by shifting their thermopreference, particularly in response to infection. We investigated how T. cruzi infection of R. prolixus fourth-instar nymphs influences thermopreference along a temperature gradient, while examining differences across times of day and time since blood feeding. Additionally, parasite load and infection maintenance were com

SUBMITTER: Loshouarn H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12700365 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature