Abstract.
Fifth instars of Triatoma infestans with established Blastocrithidia triatomae infections were dissected after different periods of starvation. After a short starvation period of 30 days, 60% of the total population (2,700,000 flagellates) occurred in the small intestine. Within the following 3 months, the numbers of living flagellates there (epimastigotes, cysts) were reduced by about 70% and the percentage of dead mastigotes increased to 30% of the respective total population. Epimastigotes always dominated (about 90%), followed by cysts and only up to 3% spheromastigotes. These relations were only slightly changed by starvation. In the rectum, at 30–120 days after feeding, the total population of living epimastigotes was reduced by 90% and the percentage of those attached to the rectal wall decreased from 10% to <3%. During this period, the proportion of dead from all epimastigotes increased from 34% to >99%. In the rectum, the percentage of cysts from the total population of living parasites increased from 41% to 88% at 30–60 days after feeding and remained at this percentage and total numbers, showing that especially the early phase of starvation strongly induced the encystment of B. triatomae.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kollien, A.H., Schaub, G.A. The development of Blastocrithidia triatomae (Trypanosomatidae) in the reduviid bug Triatoma infestans (Insecta): influence of starvation. Parasitol Res 88, 804–809 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-002-0662-z
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-002-0662-z