Jane Costa, Gabriela Ferreira Campos Guerra, Fernanda Cristina de Oliveira Firmino, Edmardo de Oliveira Campbell Junior, Cláudia Jucá da Silva, João Paulo Sales Oliveira-Correia, Dayse S Rocha, Cleber Galvão
Inside the house, indicators of colonisation were recorded, including 15 eggs, 11 nymphs, two exuviae, and 19 adult specimens. T. cruzi infection was detected in 13 specimens and the blood meal source identification, through amplification of DNA fragments indicated the presence of human blood as one of the feeding sources in seven specimens.
BACKGROUND: Triatoma vitticeps (Stål, 1859), a primarily sylvatic vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909), has been reported invading dwellings and peridomiciliary ecotopes in several regions of Brazil.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Here, we report for the first time, the colonisation of a brick house by T. vitticeps in the municipality of São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Rio de Janeiro State.
FINDINGS: Inside the house, indicators of colonisation were recorded, including 15 eggs, 11 nymphs, two exuviae, and 19 adult specimens. T. cruzi infection was detected in 13 specimens and the blood meal source identification, through amplification of DNA fragments indicated the presence of human blood as one of the feeding sources in seven specimens.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The infested dwelling was treated with insecticide to control the infestation, and residents were appropriately instructed to remain vigilant for the presence of triatomines and to contact health authorities if new specimens were detected.