Frequency of triatomines infected with Trypanosoma cruzi collected in Cuernavaca city, Morelos, México

In order to study the frequency of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in the triatomines from Cuernavaca city (Morelos, Mexico), 1,060 triatomines were captured with the support of the population, from september 1990 to february 1992; 1,035 were Triatoma pallidipennis adults, 88% presented flagellated protozoa with morphological characteristics corresponding to Trypanosoma spp. Later, in the laboratory, their ability to infect NIH mouse confirmed the isolates identities as Trypanosoma cruzi. The other 25 triatomines captured were adults of Triatoma barberi, 70% of them were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The results show the need to increase the study of the Chagas' disease in the urban and suburban areas as well as showing the need to provide further information to the population regarding the prevention of this parasitosis.