Lowenstein W A, Romaña C A, Ben Fadel F, Pays J F, Veron M, Rouzioux C
Médecine Interne, Hôpital Laennec, Paris.
Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 1992;85(4):310-5; discussion 315-6.
Triatoma infestans is the main domestic vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasitic agent of Chagas' disease in South America. We investigated whether Triatoma infestans could shelter the HIV-1 virus. For this purpose, we measured the survival time of the virus in the alimentary tract. Fifth-instar nymphs of the blood-sucking bug were fed through an ad hoc apparatus with venous blood from asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive patients. We attempted to evidence the virus by cultivating material from the insect gut (wall and content) on lymphocyte co-culture. Retrovirus activity was demonstrated in the culture supernatant by dosing the p24 antigen and the reverse transcriptase activity. The virus has been found alive in the gut content of Triatoma infestans up to the 7th day after the last infectious meal of the insect.
骚扰锥蝽是克氏锥虫的主要家栖传播媒介，克氏锥虫是南美洲恰加斯病的致病寄生虫。我们研究了骚扰锥蝽是否能够藏匿HIV-1病毒。为此，我们测定了该病毒在消化道内的存活时间。利用一个特制装置，用无症状HIV-1血清阳性患者的静脉血喂养吸血蝽的五龄若虫。我们试图通过在淋巴细胞共培养中培养昆虫肠道（肠壁和肠内容物）的物质来证实病毒的存在。通过检测p24抗原和逆转录酶活性，在培养上清液中证实了逆转录病毒活性。在昆虫最后一次感染性进食后的第7天，仍在骚扰锥蝽的肠道内容物中发现了存活的病毒。
