Sylvatic triatominae of the phyllosoma complex (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) around the community of Carrillo Puerto, Nayarit, Mexico.

Research on domestic and sylvatic triatomines within the community of Carrillo Puerto and neighboring areas of Nayarit, Mexico, documented that Triatoma longipennis (Usinger) and Triatoma picturata (Usinger) were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (L.) in both habitats. T. picturata was the predominant species in both habitats. Mouse baited-traps increased the effectiveness of collecting sylvatic triatomines, which were difficult to sample by inspecting habitats such as burrows, caves, and cliffs. The colonization of sylvatic and peridomestic habitats by Triatoma, the occurrence of high rates of infection with T. cruzi and the possibility that bugs move between habitats may require modification of current control strategies in Mexico.

Acute Chagas' cardiopathy in a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in Guadalajara, Mexico.

We report a 24-year-old female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) who contracted Chagas' infection at the Guadalajara Zoo, in Jalisco, México, and died of acute Chagas' carditis 15 days later. The histopathological findings are described, as well as the presence of triatomids (Triatoma longipennis Usinger) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi collected within 5 meters from the place where the animal lived in the city of Guadalajara.

[The prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donors in the state of Jalisco, Mexico]. / Prevalencia de infección a Trypanosoma cruzi en donadores de sangre en el Estado de Jalisco, México.

A Chagas disease serological study was done from October 1991 to March 1992 and 3419 samples were taken from people who donated blood at 12 county areas of Jalisco, México and 8 urban hospitals, by means of indirect hemagglutination reaction. The results indicate that: 73.5% of the donors were from urban area, 26.5% were from rural areas; 1.28% of the donors (N = 44) were considered infected. Thirty nine of them (1.14) were males and 5 females. According to the above mentioned data, we can confirm that the risk of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi can occur by blood transfusion and this is potentially latent because of the growing urbanization of Chagas disease.

[Acute Chagas' disease in an 80-year-old woman in Mexico. An anatomicopathological report]. / Doença de Chagas aguda em mulher de 80 anos no México. Relato anatomopatológico.

A case of acute Chagas' disease, diagnosed by necropsy, in a 80-year-old woman, is reported. It is assumed that infection was acquired through triatomine bite in Zacoelo de Torres, Jalisco State, Mexico. There were lesions due to Aoffican trypanosomiasis in the heart, esophagus and bowel. Autonomic nervous lesions were detected in the esophagus and bowel. It is emphasized the importance of these findings in an area where few cases of megas were reported.

Acute Chagas' cardiopathy in a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in Guadalajara, Mexico

Relatamos o caso de uma ursa polar (Ursus maritimus) de 24 anos de idade, que contraiu a infecção chagásica no Zoológico de Guadalajara, em Jalisco, no México, e morreu de cardite chagásica aguda 15 dias após o início da sintomatologia. Os achados histopatológicos são descritos, bem como a presença de triatomíneos (Triatoma longipennis Usinger) infectados por Trypanosoma cruzi coletados a 5 metros do local onde o animal vivia, na cidade de Guadalajara.

We report a 24-year-old female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) who contracted Chagas' infection at the Guadalajara Zoo, in Jalisco, México, and died of acute Chagas' carditis 15 days later. The histopathological findings are described, as well as the presence of triatomids (Triatoma longipennis Usinger) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi collected within 5 meters from the place where the animal lived in the city of Guadalajara.