The first case report of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in Uruguay.

Trypanosoma evansi, the causal agent of Surra, is a salivarian African trypanosoma introduced in America during the 15th century. In this study we report the first case of African trypanosomiasis in Uruguay. We describe clinical signs and the evolution of the disease on an Uruguayan Cimarron dog, as well as the isolation and molecular characterization of the Trypanosoma evansi reported strain. This constitutes the first case of Surra in Uruguay, showing the expansion of the parasite to the south of the American continent. Future work is needed to identify the vector and possible reservoirs in order to avoid the spread of the disease. The epidemiological relevance of the findings are discussed.

[Seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in 6- and 12- year-old school children from three Uruguayan endemic departments]. / Seroprevalencia de la infección por Trypanosoma cruzi en escolares de seis y doce años de edad de tres departamentos endémicos de Uruguay.

The last national survey on seroprevalence of T. cruzi human infection in Uruguay, showed a 3.4% in adults from endemic areas. Since 1983, antivectorial actions of the control program have been carried out continually. In consequence, household infestation by Triatoma infestan, the main vector of T. cruzi in Uruguay, decreased in all endemic areas and was completely eliminated in some of them. The objectives of the present work are to evaluate the new seroepidemiological situation. A representative sampling of rural and urban population was undertaken, to include six and twelve year-old school children from three departments: Artigas, Rivera and Tacuarembo. The whole sample included 4,722 school children, evaluated by the indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) test for Chagas disease. The seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in the six year-old group was 0.3% in Artigas, 0.6% in Rivera and 1.0% in Tacuarembo. The seropositive children with seropositive mothers support the possible congenital transmission.

Ecology of Triatoma rubrovaria (Hemiptera, Triatominae) in wild and peridomestic environments of Uruguay.

This paper describes population structure, spatial distribution and habitat selection of wild and peridomestic populations of Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843). Field studies were carried out at Las Piedras and La Bolsa in the Northern Department of Artigas, Uruguay. A semicircular sampling area, divided in seven or eight triangular sectors was sequentially examined from October 1990 to November 1991. At Las Piedras (typical wild habitat) 1063 T. rubrovaria bugs were collected from 84% of the rocky outcroops ("pedregales"). Abundance varied by season peaking in October-November (spring). Throughout the year, most of the population was made up of third, fourth and fifth instar nymphs; adults were found from October to March. In the peridomestic environment of La Bolsa, however T. rubrovaria was less common and showed a more irregular instar distribution. Colonized ecotopes, were those close to houses. In both sites T. rubrovaria was mainly associated with the geckonid Homonota uruguayensis and the cockroach Blaptica dubia.

[Feeding pattern of Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) in peridomiciliary habitats, of a rural area of Uruguay]. / Perfil alimentario de Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera, triatominae) en ámbitos peridomiciliarios, de una localidad rural de Uruguay.

It has been studied the feeding patterns of Triatoma rubrovaria (wild triatominae bug, and intradomiciliary secondary vector of T. cruzi) in a rural area of "La Bolsa" (Department of Artigas). Agar double diffusion test were used for analyze the blood meal, from 120 insects, which were confronted to 13 antisera. It has 251 identify blood meals, and the most frequently was mammalian host (73%), but it has a variable source of feeding (mammals, birds, reptiles and cockroach), including humans rate 8% of the total. The identify of haemolimphe as feed, place this triatominae bug as an intermediary vector between predator and haematophagous. The most usual mammals are dasypodides and bovines. The frequence of human blood meal near the dwellings, shows its potentiality as vectors. Therefore, the peridomicile is an area of interaction between, domestic, wild and sinantropic host. The trypanosomic infection's rate at peridomiciles was lesser those at wild areas.

[Triatoma delpontei Romaña & Abalos, 1947 (Hemiptera, Tratominae) in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul]. / Triatoma delpontei Romaña & Abalos, 1947 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) en el estado brasileño de "Rio Grande do Sul".

Triatoma delpontei (Romaña & Abalos, 1947) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) is an ornithophilic sylvatic with a particular association to the psittacid Myiopsitta monachus (Boaddert, 1783). It is found in the continental biogeographical province of the Chaco, where it inhabits the nests or M. monachus, in subtropical xerophytic forests. The authors report the first finding of T. delpontei in Brasil, in the "campanha" region of the State or Rio Grande do Sul (Barra do Quarai, Uruguaiana), on the right bank of the River Cuareim, not far from de Uruguayan border.

Hallazgo de Triatoma platensis Neiva, 1913 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) en el estado brasileno de "Rio Grande do Sul" / Finding of Triatoma platensis Neiva, 1913 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) in the Brazilian state of \"Rio Grande do Sul\"

Triatoma platensis Neiva 1913 (Hemiptera, Triatominae), especie ornitofila, con area de dispercion conocida en Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay y Uruguay es notificada en um primer registro para Brasil. Hallada en el municipio de Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul) en nidos de Anumbius annumbi (Vieillot, 1817) (Passeriformes, Furnariidae) donde cohabitaba con cricetidos de la especie Orizomys flavescens. Ningun ejemplar de los siete colectados se presento infectado por Trypanosoma cruzi.

[Triatoma platensis Neiva, 1913 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) found in the Brazilian state of "Rio Grande do Sul"]. / Hallazgo de Triatoma platensis Neiva, 1913 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) en el Estado brasileno de "Rio Grande do Sul".

Triatoma platensis, an ornitophilic species, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay is reported for the first time in Brazil. It was found in the county of Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul) in nests of Anumbius annumbi (Vieillot, 1817) (Passeriformes, Furnariidae) where it cohabited with cricetids belonging to the species Orizomys flavescens. None of the seven individuals collected were infected by Trypanosoma cruzi.