"Mi Casa, Tu Casa": the coati nest as a hub of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the southern Pantanal biome revealed by molecular blood meal source identification in triatomines.

Background: The study of the ecology of Trypanosoma cruzi is challenging due to its extreme adaptive plasticity, resulting in the parasitism of hundreds of mammal species and dozens of triatomine species. The genetic analysis of blood meal sources (BMS) from the triatomine vector is an accurate and practical approach for gathering information on which wild mammal species participate in a local transmission network. South American coatis, Nasua nasua, act as important reservoir host species of T.

Molecular detection of blood meal source up to three months since the last meal: Experimental starvation resistance in triatomines.

The identification of Blood Meal Source (BMS) in hematophagous vectors contributes to a better understanding of the ecology of hemoparasite transmission. Those insects can endure long periods without feeding, waiting for a favorable setting. Although this represents an important behavior observed in those groups, such as triatomines, little is known about how time can affect BMS detection, especially considering extended periods.