Resumen

CANALS, MAURICIO et al. BIOLOGIA COMPARADA DE Mepraia spinolai EN CONDICIONES DE LABORATORIO Y TERRENO:: CINCO AÑOS DE ESTUDIO. Parasitol. día [online]. 1998, vol.22, n.3-4, pp. 72-78. ISSN 0716-0720.  doi: 10.4067/S0716-07201998000300003.

COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY OF Mepraia spinolai IN LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS: FIVE YEARS STUDY In Chile there are two vectors of the Chagas's disease: Triatoma infestans, and Mepraia spinolai. The first is the responsible of the domestic cycle and it is one of the more studied vectors in South America. In contrast, M. spinolai is the only Chilean wild vector, and several aspects of its biology and epidemiological importance remain poorly understood. In this manuscript we summarise the most relevant topics of five years studying its biology in both laboratory and field. We emphasise in ecological, behavioural and epidemiological aspects of M. spinolai, comparing them with T. infestans. Our experiments showed that both species have similar population dynamics, geographic distribution and preferred temperatures in the laboratory. The main differences were in their alimentary profile and in their behaviour. They are particularly evident in the activity rhythm, the time that take the bite, short in M. spinolai, and the delay in the defecation, very long in this species. These facts would explain its low epidemiological impact

Palabras clave : Chagas's disease; vectors; Mepraia spinola; Triatoma spinolai.