Trypanosoma cruzi Parasite Load Modulates the Circadian Activity Pattern of Triatoma infestans.

ABSTRACT: American trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted mainly in endemic areas by blood-sucking triatomine vectors. Triatoma infestans is the most important vector in the southern cone of South America, exhibiting a nocturnal host-seeking behavior. It has been previously documented that the parasite produces changes in some triatomine species, but this is the first time that the behavior of a vector has been evaluated in relation to its parasite load. After comparing the movement events and distance traveled of infected and non-infected T. infestans, we evaluated the change produced by different T. cruzi parasite loads on its circadian locomotor activity. We observed differences between infected and non-infected triatomines, and a s

SUBMITTER: Chacon F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8777832 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature