Triatomines as experimental vectors of trypanosomes of Asian monkeys
Weinman, D.; Wallis, R.C.; Cheong, W.H.; Mahadevan, S.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 27(2 Pt 1): 232-237
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 417639 Document Number: 138231
Systematic surveys of the wild macaques of southern Asia by blood culture resulted in the discovery that trypanosomiasis is enzootic in Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand. The isolates obtained differ in morphology, metabolism, and ability to multiply in arthropods. Following this discovery, interest focused on possible transmissions of these trypanosomes. Laboratory-reared and wild-caught insects were studied to determine which are satisfactory intermediate hosts and potential natural vectors. Successful results were obtained with insectary-reared reduviids and Indonesian isolates. In Rhodnius prolixus Stal and Triatoma rubrofasciata (Deg.), the Indonesian trypanosomes multiplied for periods that could exceed 40 days. The flagellate infections were in the digestive tract but were never seen in the salivary glands or in the haemolymph. The faeces of trypanosome-carrying reduviids were infective, suggesting a stercoreal method of infection of mammals, and infection was produced in experiments in which feeding by the insects was not possible. The relevance of these findings to natural transmission in Indonesia is not known. Experiments with insects and all other trypanosomal isolates were negative. The natural transmission mechanism(s) of the simian trypanosomiases in southern Asia remains an unsolved problem. Systematic surveys of the wild macaques of South Asia by blood culture resulted in the discovery that trypanosomiasis is enzootic in the simians of Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand. The isolates obtained differ in morphology, metabolism, and ability to multiply in arthropods. Laboratory-reared and wild-caught insects were studied to determine which are satisfactory intermediate hosts and potential natural vectors. Successful results were obtained with insectary-reared reduviids and Indonesian isolates. In Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma rubrofasciata the Indonesian trypanosomes multiply for periods which can exceed 40 days. The flagellate infections are in the digestive tract, whereas trypanosomes have never been seen in the salivary glands or in the haemolymph. The faeces of trypanosome-carrying reduviids are infective, suggesting a stercoreal method of infection of mammals, and infection was produced in experiments in which feeding by the insects was not possible. Experiments with insects and all other isolates were negative. [AS].