Laura Flores-Villegas, A.;
Cabrera-Bravo, Margarita;
De Fuentes-Vicente, José A.;
Guillermo Jiménez-Cortés, J.;
Salazar-Schettino, Paz María;
Bucio-Torres, Martha Irene;
Córdoba-Aguilar, Alex
Coinfection by Trypanosoma cruzi and a fungal pathogen increases survival of Chagasic bugs: advice against a fungal control strategy
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Triatomine bugs carry the parasitic protozoa <jats:italic>Trypanosoma cruzi</jats:italic>, the causal agent of Chagas disease. It is known that both the parasite and entomopathogenic fungi can decrease bug survival, but the combined effect of both pathogens is not known, which is relevant for biological control purposes. Herein, the survival of the triatomine <jats:italic>Meccus pallidipennis</jats:italic> (Stal, 1872) was compared when it was coinfected with the fungus <jats:italic>Metarhizium anisopliae</jats:italic> (Metschnikoff) and <jats:italic>T. cruzi</jats:italic>, and when both pathogens acted separately. The immune response of the insect was also studied, using phenoloxidase activity in the bug gut and hemolymph, to understand our survival results. Contrary to expectations, triatomine survival was higher in multiple than in single challenges, even though the immune response was lower in cases of multiple infection. We postulate that <jats:italic>T. cruzi</jats:italic> exerts a protective effect and/or that the insect reduced the resources allocated to defend itself against both pathogens. Based on the present results, the use of <jats:italic>M. anisopliae</jats:italic> as a control agent should be re-considered.</jats:p>