Infestación Attalea butyracea xxx con vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas e infección natural con Trypanosoma spp., en la vereda la Macarena, municipio El Zulia, Departamento Norte de Santander-Colombia.

Abstract

Chagas disease is one of the most epidemiologically important blood-sucking insect-borne parasitosis in Latin America and is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This disease presents two important clinical phases, acute and chronic. Palms represent an eco-epidemiological indicator of great relevance due to their natural association with Triatomines, representing a microfocus in the transmission of T. cruzi, both in the wild and in the peri-domicile. Palms have shown a natural association with some vectors that transmit the parasite, as is the case of Rhodnius prolixus, representing a danger to the population. The present study aims to determine the infestation of Attalea butyracea (corozo palms) with vectors of Chagas disease and natural infection with Trypanosoma spp. in La Macarena, Municipality of El Zulia, Department of Norte de Santander-Colombia, by capturing insect vectors in palms of Attalea butyracea (corozo palm) using live bait traps. An infestation rate of 31% was found in 100 palms and a natural infection rate of Trypanosoma spp. by microscopy, flagellated parasites were visualized in rectal ampulla smears of 4 triatomines (6.25%) and by PCR T. cruzi DNA was detected in the intestinal contents of 25 insects (40%), in addition, low population densities of triatomines in the jungle environment. Key words: Attalea butyracea, Trypanosoma spp., ecotope, triatomines.