Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Reduviidae Scientific name Triatoma brasiliensis | Phylum Arthropoda Order Hemiptera Subfamily Triatominae Rank Species | |
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Similar Triatoma, Panstrongylus megistus, Panstrongylus, Rhodnius, Kissing bugs | ||
Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, 1911 is now considered the most important Chagas disease vector in the semiarid areas of northeastern Brazil. T. brasiliensis occurs in 12 Brazilian states, including Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Paraíba. T. brasiliensis is native to this part of Brazil, and thus persists in the natural environment. This species of Kissing Bug has the greatest potential to spread Chaga's disease due to its distribution over large areas where numerous people reside. Triatoma species are commonly called Kissing Bugs because they bite around the mouth where skin is thinner. T. brasiliensis also has the greatest potential to colonize new areas and spread throughout northeastern parts of Brazil. This makes control problematic (see below).
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Life Cycle
Female triatomids deposit small eggs in secluded areas. After 8 to 10 days the first of five nymph stages emerges. A full blood meal is required before continuing onto the next nymph state. The cycle from egg to adult can take up to two years in nature. Adults are obligate blood feeders that feed primarily at night and hide during the day. T. brasiliensis becomes infected with Trypanosoma cruzi when they feed on infected hosts such as humans, dogs, cats, and other mammals. T. brasiliensis then transfers T. cruzi through feces on the new host's skin. It is not known how long the adults can survive in the wild but an infected bug can serve as a vector for up to three years.
Control
The current control method of Chagas disease is to control the vector populations. The control strategies against this vector are very complex due to its capacity to infest natural and artificial environments presenting high levels of population density. Simple spraying methods are not as effective for T. brasiliensis as they are for other Triatoma species. Suggested methods of control currently include spraying more frequently with higher surveillance or to devise a strategy that attacks T. brasiliensis in sylvatic foci such as spraying palm trees.