On palms, bugs, and Chagas disease in the Americas.

Palms are ubiquitous across Neotropical landscapes, from pristine forests or savannahs to large cities. Although palms provide useful ecosystem services, they also offer suitable habitat for triatomines and for Trypanosoma cruzi mammalian hosts. Wild triatomines often invade houses by flying from nearby palms, potentially leading to new cases of human Chagas disease.

[Spider diversity in cultures of Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae) in Corrientes province, Argentina].

Spiders are predators that reduce insect pest populations in agroecosystems. In spite that the presence of spider assemblages has been described in different crop plants, no reports have been done for Citrus species in Argentina. We studied the spider community associated with cultures of Citrus sinensis in the province of Corrientes, Argentina, in two plots (AM1 irrigated and AM2 unirrigated) of 0.

Geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modelling for delimitation of near-sibling triatomine species.

Identifying morphologically similar triatomine species is key to Chagas' disease vector control and surveillance, but remains challenging when only qualitative phenotypic data are available. We investigated whether morphometric and ecological variation can provide additional criteria for species delimitation by combining geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modelling to characterize two near-sibling triatomine species, Triatoma sordida and Triatoma garciabesi (Reduviidae: Triatominae). We analysed size and shape variation in 231 wings and 123 heads from one T.

[Epidemiology of American trypanosomiasis in the North of Corrientes province, Argentina].

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate triatomine colonization in domestic and extradomestic ecotopes, to determine triatomines infection index and to assess human prevalence of anti Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies at Berón de Astrada and Mburucuyá Departments, Corrientes, Argentina. Samplings were performed in 2007 and 2008 in randomly selected households at rural areas. Diagnosis of Chagas infection in volunteer residents was performed using indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and indirect immunoen-zimatic assay.

[Composition of the Araneae (Arachnida) fauna of the provincial Iberá Reserve, Corrientes, Argentina].

A survey of the spider community composition and diversity was carried out in grasslands and woods in three localities: Colonia Pellegrini, Paraje Galarza and Estancia Rinc6n (Iberá province Reserve). Pit fall traps, leaf litter sifting, foliage beating, hand collecting and sweep nets were used. Shannon's diversity index, evenness, Berger-Parker's dominance index, beta and gamma diversity were calculated, and a checklist of spider fauna was compiled.

Arthropods associated with the crown of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) palm trees in three different environments from Brazilian Cerrado.

Canopy arthropods, mainly from palm trees, are little known in the Brazilian Cerrado. In order to describe the arthropod community structure associated with the crown of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae), we sampled 150 palm trees in six "veredas" of the Federal District, Brazil, in wild, rural and periurban areas in the rainy season. The arthropods within abandoned bird nests, mammal refuges, leaves and organic matter were manually collected, preserved in ethanol 70% and separated by order, family, morphospecies and feeding guilds.

Genetic variability of Triatoma rubrovaria (Reduviidae: Triatominae) from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay as revealed by two different molecular markers.

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence analyses were used to assess the genetic population structure of the South American triatomine species Triatomo rubrovario throughout its geographical distribution. To investigate the genetic variability at both intraspecific and intrapopulational levels the RAPD profiles and the nucleotide sequences of the rDNA intergenic spacers, ITS-1 and ITS-2, were analysed and compared. The phenetic analysis based on RAPD profiles show three distinct clusters diverging by similarity coefficients ranging from 0.

[Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) associated with two degraded forests in the humid Chaco of Corrientes, Argentina].

The advancing degradation of the forest in the biogeographic Chaco province (Argentina) produces an important loss of its little known biodiversity. We studied the spider biodiversity in two forests of Corrientes, Argentina's "Distrito Oriental Húmedo del Chaco": Laguna Brava and El Perich6n. Seasonal samplings of foliage and fallen leaves between 2001 and 2002 produced 2067 individuals from 33 families and 226 species/morphospecies).

Life cycle and reproductive patterns of Triatoma rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under constant and fluctuating conditions of temperature and humidity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperature and relative humidity influence in the life cycle, mortality and fecundity patterns of Triatoma rubrovaria. Four cohorts with 60 recently laid eggs each were conformed. The cohorts were divided into two groups.

[Epidemiology of Chagas disease in San Roque, Corrientes. Triatomine infestation and human seroprevalence].

This investigation was aimed to evaluate triatomine colonization in domestic and extradomestic ecotopes located around a palm community, to determine triatomines infection index and to obtain human seroprevalence rates. Samplings were performed in spring 1998 and summer 1999 in Colonia Laurel, Department San Roque, Corrientes, Argentina. Timed-collection of triatomines (man/hour method) was performed.

[Population statistics of Triatoma rubrovaria in laboratory].

Objective: To obtain T. rubrovaria population parameters in order to describe its demographic characteristics.

Methods: The study was carried out in the laboratory of Arthropods, Corrientes, Argentina, from October 2000 to February 2003.

Competition between vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma infestans and T. sordida: effects on fecundity and mortality.

Interspecific competition between two species of triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), vectors of Chagas disease, was assessed for 16 months through comparative fecundity and mortality of experimental populations in chicken nests, maintained indoors with ambient conditions. Triatoma sordida (Stål), the secondary vector in north-eastern Argentina, was compared with Triatoma infestans (Klug) the more widespread domestic vector in the southern cone of South America. Both species populations originated from females collected in 1995 from the community of Empedrado, Corrientes, Argentina.

[Chagas' disease epidemiology in the province of General Paz, Argentina].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate triatomine colonization in domestic and peridomestic ecotopes and to assess the seroprevalence of Chagas' disease in rural areas.

Methods: The study was carried out in the province of General Paz, Corrientes, Argentina. Human dwellings and peridomestic ecotopes were randomly selected.

Triatomines involved in domestic and wild Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Concepción, Corrientes, Argentina.

An entomological and serological survey was performed in three localities of the Department of Concepción, Province of Corrientes, Argentina in 1998 and 1999, to identify triatomines species involved in domestic and wild transmission of Chagas disease. Triatomines were collected by man/hour capture in 32 houses randomly selected and 44 nearby outdoor ecotopes. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in triatomines was assessed by direct microscopic observation (400x) of feces and polymerase chain reaction.

Triatoma sordida Stål 1859 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae: Triatominae) in palms of northeastern Argentina.

Several palms species provide an important habitat for triatomines and associate vertebrates in tropical America. The objective of this work is to identify the triatomine species living in the palms of rural areas in the Province of Corrientes, and to estimate the potential epidemiological risk they represent for the residents of nearby houses. The survey was carried out in a palm community in Colonia Laurel, Department San Roque, Province of Corrientes, Argentina.

[Detection of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in domiciliary and extra-domiciliary ecotopes. Corrientes, Argentina. ].

In order to identify intra- and extra-domiciliary triatomines, a study in different counties of Corrientes Province, Argentina, was conducted from 1985 to 1995. Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834), Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859), Panstrongylus geniculatus (Latreille, 1811), and Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835) were detected in domestic ecotopes. T.

Interactions between Triatoma infestans and Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in artificial ecotopes: population growth and age structure.

Interaction characteristics between Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 and Triatoma sordida Stal, 1859 populations were studied in artificial ecotopes for 16 mo. The experimental design involved simultaneous treatments with T. infestans and T.

[Contribution to knowledge of reservoirs of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) in Corrientes Province, Argentina].

In order to identify Trypanosoma cruzi reservoirs in transmission areas, 60 mammals in Capital and San Luis del Palmar Departments, Corrientes, Argentina were studied. Primates, rodents, carnivores, marsupials and edentates were investigated, 40 of them living in captivity and 20 caught with traps in a rural area. The mammals were examined by xenodiagnosis and third or fourth instars nymphs of Triatoma infestans starved for 2 weeks were used.

[Clinical cross-sectional and epidemiologic study of Chagas disease in a rural area of the Argentinian northeast].

The main goal was to know the epidemiologic, clinical, electrocardiographic and radiologic characteristics among a population of seropositives and seronegatives to Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area of the Department of San Miguel, province of Corrientes, Argentina. One hundred and thirty-two patients of different ages: 2-79 years old were researched (58 males, 74 females). In order to make a thorough assessment clinical evaluation and cardiologic testing were carried out.

[Household infestation by triatomines and human seroprevalence in Empedrado Department, Corrientes, Argentina].

Domestic and peridomestic triatomine colonization, T. infestans infection rate and human seropositives to Trypanosoma cruzi in rural areas of Empedrado Department, Corrientes, Argentina, were carried out. Methods used in order to search the triatomines, to determine them systematically, to obtain their infection rates and the human seropositives, were the same applied in a previous report.

[Domestic infestation by Triatoma infestans and prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi seropositives in a rural area of the Argentinian northeast].

An epidemiological study was carried out from April 1991 to December 1993 to obtain a general view of T. cruzi domestic transmission in rural areas of San Miguei Department, Corrientes. From 100 analyzed households, 50.

[Population statistics of Triatoma sordida Stäl 1859 (Hemiptera:Reduviidae) in experimental conditions].

Four cohorts of 100 Triatoma sordida eggs were reared under standard laboratory conditions (28 degrees C, 63% R.H.) and fed weekly on hens during 40 minutes.

[Population interactions between Triatoma infestans and Triatoma sordida].

Populations of T. infestans and T. sordida were studied between September 1988 and April 1989 with a view to discovering if any kind of interaction took place between them while they lives together in the same experimental unit and exploited the same food resource (chicken).

[Presence of Triatoma sordida Stäl, 1859 in urban ecotopes, of the city of Corrientes, Argentina].

With the intention of verifying the presence of T. sordida Stál 1859 in urban ecotopes in Corrientes city, Argentina, both, human dwellings and an extradomiciliary habitat were taken as a basis. A complete T.

[Triatoma infestation in the San Luis del Palmar Department of Corrientes Province, Argentina].

The purpose of this study was to determine domestic and peridomestic infestation of Triatominae, Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates, and the prevalence of human seroreactivity in rural areas of the Department of San Luis del Palmar, Corrientes, Argentina (Fig. 1). The study took place from April 1986 to May 1989.