[Comparative study of the susceptibility of 5 triatomine species (Insecta: Reduviidae) to Trypanosoma cruzi infection].

In order to determine the most suitable species of triatomine for xenodiagnosis of the Chagas disease, five species triatomine (Triatoma barberi, T. infestans, T. pallidipennis, T. phyllosoma, and Rhodnius prolixus) in third and fourth instars were used to evaluate their susceptibility to one T. cruzi strain isolated in Mexico. The susceptibility was determined by: a) percentage of infected triatomines, b) amount of flagellates in bug feces and c) amount of blood ingested. We found that in most species of triatomines tested the third instar was more susceptible than fourth instar. The order of susceptibility to T. cruzi was: T. pallidipennis > T. barberi > T. phyllosoma > T. infestans > R. prolixus.