| dc.description | Mepraia parapatrica is one of the lesser known and less abundant sylvatic triatomine
species naturally infected by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease.
M. parapatrica lives in sympatry with T. cruzi-infected rodents, but only birds, reptiles, and marine
mammals have been reported as blood-meal sources of this vector species by serology. The distribution range of this kissing bug overlaps with fishers’ settlements and tourist areas, and therefore
the study of the blood-meal sources of this triatomine species is relevant. Here, we determined the
blood-meal sources of M. parapatrica by NGS or standard sequencing from a coastal mainland area and
an island in northern Chile, and T. cruzi infection by real-time PCR. The blood-meals of. M parapatrica
included 61.3% reptiles, 35.5% mammals (including humans) and 3.2% birds. Feeding on reptiles
was more frequent on the mainland, while on the island feeding on mammals was more frequent.
The presence of T. cruzi-infected triatomine bugs and humans as part of the diet of M. parapatrica in
both areas represents an epidemiological threat and potential risk to the human population visiting
or established in these areas. Currently there are no tools to control wild triatomines; these results
highlight the potential risk of inhabiting these areas and the necessity of developing information
campaigns for the community and surveillance actions. | |
