The Parasite Load of Modulates Feeding and Defecation Patterns of the Chagas Disease Vector .

is the causal agent of Chagas disease, a parasitic zoonosis transmitted mainly through the feces of triatomine insects. is the main triatomine vector of this disease in South America. Previous research has shown that infection modifies the behavior of triatomines. We evaluated, for the first time, the effect of parasite load on feeding and defecation behavior, which we quantified by using real-time PCR. The detection time of the host was shorter in infected individuals, and the number of bites increased, while the dejection time was reduced when compared with the non-infected group. A significant correlation between the parasite load and the behavioral changes registered in the infected triatomines was found. These results would indicate that the intensity of infection modulates the feeding and defecation behavior of , increasing the vector competence of this triatomine vector.