Circulación de Trypanosoma cruzi TcI en poblaciones silvestres y con tendencia a la domiciliación de Panstrongylus geniculatus  (Latreille, 1811) (Hemíptera; Reduviidae) en el departamento del Atlántico, Colombia

Yeisson Cera-Vallejo; Claudia Romero-Vivas; Andrew K. Falconar; Roberto García-Alzate; Daisy Lozano-Arias

doi:10.17843/rpmesp.2026.431.15385

Authors

Yeisson Cera-Vallejo Grupo de investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad del Norte, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia. Grupo de investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Clínicas GIBAC, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Fundación Universitaria San Martín-Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0077-4535
Claudia Romero-Vivas Grupo de investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad del Norte, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7860-5542
Andrew K. Falconar Grupo de investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad del Norte, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2066-9487
Roberto García-Alzate Grupo de investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Clínicas GIBAC, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Fundación Universitaria San Martín-Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia. Grupo de investigación en Ciencia Educación y Tecnología CETIC, Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico Colombia. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7502-5850
Daisy Lozano-Arias Grupo de investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Clínicas GIBAC, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Fundación Universitaria San Martín-Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2583-8806

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2026.431.15385

Keywords:

Trypanosoma cruzi, genotype, Panstrongylus

Abstract

The TcI genotype of Trypanosoma cruzi was identified in wild populations and in populations with a tendency to domestication of Panstrongylus geniculatus in the department of Atlántico, Colombia. Through active searching and light traps in rural and urban areas of three municipalities, 33 specimens of P. geniculatus were captured: Usiacurí (2), Piojó (2), and Tubará (29), the latter collected in five homes. The DNA of the digestive contents was analyzed by PCR using molecular markers (DNAk, Mini-Exon, 18S, DNAr), revealing infection by T. cruzi in 75% of the specimens (25/33), all from Tubará, with exclusive identification of the TcI genotype. Additionally, entomological indices were calculated, with infestation, colonization, and natural infection rates of 60%, 33%, and 86%, respectively. These findings constitute the first report of T. cruzi TcI in the department of Atlántico and the first record of P. geniculatus in Usiacurí, which highlights a potential risk to Colombian public health.

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