Rhodnius prolixus Colonization and Trypanosoma cruzi Transmission in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Plantations in the Orinoco Basin, Colombia.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease that infects more than seven million people in Latin America. The parasite is transmitted by triatomine insects, of which some species are often associated with palms. The establishment of oil palm plantations (Elaeis guineensis) in the Orinoco region (Colombia) has been rapidly growing, possibly constituting a new environment for the establishment and increase in triatomine populations. In this study, the potential of Rhodnius prolixus to colonize E. guineensis plantations and maintain T. cruzi transmission was assessed. Fieldwork was conducted in two areas located in the department of Casanare for sampling E. guineensis and Attalea butyracea palms, sampling for triatomines to det

SUBMITTER: Erazo D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7356441 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature