First record of Triatoma vitticeps (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) colonising a brick house in an urban area of a devastated Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND

Triatoma vitticeps (Stål, 1859), a primarily sylvatic vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909), has been reported invading dwellings and peridomiciliary ecotopes in several regions of Brazil.

OBJECTIVES AND

METHODS

Here, we report for the first time, the colonisation of a brick house by T. vitticeps in the municipality of São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Rio de Janeiro State.

FINDINGS: Inside the house, indicators of colonisation were recorded, including 15 eggs, 11 nymphs, two exuviae, and 19 adult specimens. T. cruzi infection was detected in 13 specimens and the blood meal source identification, through amplification of DNA fragments indicated the presence of human blood as one of the feeding sources in seven specimens.

MAIN

CONCLUSIONS

The infested dwelling was treated with insecticide to control the infestation, and residents were appropriately instructed to remain vigilant for the presence of triatomines and to contact health authorities if new specimens were detected.