Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina.
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2011 Mar;106(2):232-9. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000200019.
The aim of this paper was to analyse the active dispersal of Triatoma infestans and the role of chickens as passive carriers of this insect in peridomestic areas of La Rioja, Argentina. To measure active dispersal, monthly catches were made on six consecutive nights for five months (in the warm season) using light traps (for flying insects) and sticky dispersal barriers (for walking insects). The nutritional and reproductive states of adults were evaluated. Over the course of the sampling period, a total of eight flying adults, six walking nymphs and 10 walking adults of the species T. infestans were captured, as well as specimens of Triatoma guasayana, Triatoma eratyrusiformis and Triatoma platensis. Our data demonstrate for the first time that females of T. infestans can disperse by walking. This may be an adaptive strategy because it allows them to move with eggs and/or with good blood reserves, which are not possible when flying. All flying and walking individuals of both genders were of an appropriate physiological state that would allow for colonisation of the target habitat. However, manual inspection of 122 chickens suggests that it is unlikely that these animals passively transport T. infestans. Finally, the dispersal activity of T. infestans was compared with other triatomines using a dispersion index.
本文旨在分析布氏田鼠的主动扩散及其在阿根廷拉里奥哈省周边地区作为这种昆虫的被动携带者的作用。为了测量主动扩散，我们在五个月的时间里（在温暖季节）每月连续六晚使用灯光陷阱（用于飞行昆虫）和粘性扩散屏障（用于行走昆虫）进行捕获。评估成虫的营养和生殖状态。在采样期间，共捕获了 8 只飞行成虫、6 只行走若虫和 10 只行走的 T. infestans 成虫，以及 Triatoma guasayana、Triatoma eratyrusiformis 和 Triatoma platensis 的标本。我们的数据首次表明，T. infestans 的雌性可以通过行走进行扩散。这可能是一种适应性策略，因为它允许它们带着卵和/或良好的血液储备移动，而这在飞行时是不可能的。所有飞行和行走的雌雄个体都处于适当的生理状态，这使得它们能够在目标栖息地中定植。然而，对 122 只鸡进行的手动检查表明，这些动物不太可能被动地传播 T. infestans。最后，使用扩散指数比较了 T. infestans 与其他三种三锥虫的扩散活动。
