A multi-species bait for Chagas disease vectors

Area of Science:

• Vector-borne diseases
• Chemical ecology
• Entomology

Background:

• Triatomine bugs transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease.
• These insects aggregate in shelters, influenced by volatile compounds from their feces.
• Previous research indicated these signals promote aggregation, but their chemical makeup was unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the chemical composition of volatile compounds in triatomine bug feces.
• To determine if these compounds induce aggregation and attract specific triatomine species.
• To explore the potential use of these compounds in pest control strategies.

Main Methods:

• Feces from larvae of Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, and Triatoma brasiliensis were collected.
• Volatile compounds were identified using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS).
• The attractivity and recruitment abilities of identified compounds were tested in behavioral assays.

Main Results:

• Five volatile compounds were identified, consistently present in the feces of all three triatomine species studied.
• Behaviorally active doses were determined for these compounds across the three species.
• Triatomine bugs showed significant attraction to shelters baited with blends of these compounds.

Conclusions:

• Common fecal volatile compounds in Chagas disease vectors actively recruit insects.
• This blend of compounds shows promise for developing baits for early detection of triatomine bug reinfestation.
• Findings contribute to integrated pest management strategies for Chagas disease vectors.