Wild marsupials and triatomines captured in Mambaí county, Goiás (Brazil): natural infection by Tripanosoma cruzi

Abstract

This paper describes aspects of the circulation of Trypanosoma cruzi in wild environments. The area studied is located in the county of Mambaí, Goiás State, and belongs to the "Provincia do Cerrado" where Chagas' disease is endemic. One hundred and fifty one rodents (11 species) and 73 Didelphis albiventris, were captured. The infection rates for T. cruzi were, respectively, 2.6% (4) and 20.6% (15). One hundred and sixty five individuals of the following triatomine species were collected: Rhodnius neglectus, Psammolestes tertius, Triatoma costalimai, Triatoma pseudomaculata and Triatoma sordida. Two specimens (T. costalimai and T. pseudomaculata) were found to be infected with T. cruzi.