Biological characteristics of Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) fed on two different hosts.

Introduction: Different blood meal sources can affect biology of triatomines.

Methods: We studied the influence of two different blood meal sources (rabbits and hens) on five biological parameters in Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis and collected biological parameters.

Results: The cohort fed on rabbits had a shorter median life-cycle and lower mortality rate than that fed on hens.

Chagas disease: Importance of rats as reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) in western Mexico.

In Mexico, the role of most species of mammals involved in the transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 is poorly known. It was carried out a study to investigate the importance of rats as reservoir of T. cruzi in western Mexico, an area with important risk of transmission of T.