As informações sobre a ecologia de Triatominae silvestres são ainda incompletas, sobretudo porque as espécies mais importantes, alvos dos programas de controle, são exclusivamente domésticas. Registros de espécies silvestres invadindo as habitações humanas devem ser investigados para ampliação do conhecimento de sua ecologia no ambiente natural, de modo que se possa compreender melhor o processo de domiciliação e se criar novas estratégias para vigilância.

Observations on the ecology of silvatic Triatominae are still fragmentary, principally because target species in control process are almost exclusively domestic. Report of silvatic species invading human dwellings must lead research to be focused on their original ecology, in order to assist in understanding their process of domestication and devising strategies for surveillance.

We compared the influence of the bug density in the capacity of Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus in obtaining blood meal in non anaesthetized mice. The regression anlysis for increase in body weight (mg) versus density (no. of bugs/mouse) showed that in experiments with anaesthetized mice (AM), no correlation was observed. In experiments with non anaesthetized mice (NAM) the weight increase was inversely proportional to density. The regression slope for blood meal size on density was less steep for T. infestans than for P. megistus (-1.9 and -3.0, respectively). The average weight increase of P. megistus nymphus in experiments with AM was higher than for T. infestans nymphs; however, in experiments with NAM such results were inverted. Mortality of P. megistus was significantly higher than of T. infestans with NAM. However, in experiments with AM very low mortality was observed. Considering the mortality and the slope of regression line on NAM, T. infestans is more efficient than P. megistus in obtaining blood meal in similar densities, possibly because it caused less irritation of the mice. The better exploitation of blood source of T. infestans when compared with P. megistus in similar densities, favours the maintenance of a better nutritional status in higher densities. This could explain epidemiological findings in which T. infestans not only succeeds in establishing larger colonies but also dislodges P. megistus in human dwellings when it is introduced in areas where the latter species prevails.

During the period 1980-1986, we captured triatomine bugs and mammalian reservoir hosts from sylvatic and domestic situations in different municipalities of the State of Minas Gerais. Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated from captured bugs, mammals and patients. After cultivation in LIT medium, the electrophoretic enzyme profiles were determined. We obtained atotal of 32 parasite isolates from regions with active domestic transmission, and 24 isolates form areas under control. For the first areas the results suggest introduction of T. cruzi from sylvatic habitats, through incursion of infected opossums and/or sylvatic T. sordida, which appears to have given rise to at least one acute human infection. Of particular interest is the finding of sylvatic opossums and a T. sordida nymph infected with ZB, that could indicate return of parasites from chronic human infections to sylvatic transmission cycles. For the areas under control we also interpret the results as interaction between sylvatic and domestic cycles of transmission, here through the invasion of houses by bugs carrying the Z1 zymodeme from the sylvatic environment. The Multivariate Correspondence Analysis gives a spatial description between the different parasite isolates and confirms the existence of a bridge in the opposite direction in the region with active vectorial transmission including the exporting of Z2 through the peridomestic environment into the sylvatic cycle. For the others areas this bridge corresponds especially to Panstrongylus megistus, importing Z1 into the domestic environment.

Foi realizado um estudo sobre o T. sordida em ambiente silvestre em duas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), área de cerrado modificado para formação de campos de pastagem e agricultura, e Mato Verde (norte) uma área de transição entre a caatinga e o cerrado, profundamente desmatada nos últimos anos com a finalidade de expansão do cultivo de algodão. Em ambas as regiões, os principais ecotopos identificados corresponderam a buracos e cascas de árvores vivas ou mortas, onde a ocorrência de fontes de alimentação não é frequente. Neste ambiente, os triatomíneos utilizam-se de variadas fontes de alimentação; gambás parecem representar urna importante fonte de infecção. No norte de Minas, observou-se urna maior concentração de reservatórios e vetores em comparação com o Triângulo, o que pode explicar a maior taxa de infecção dos triatomíneos no norte. Maior atenção ao processo de domiciliação do T. sordida no norte de Minas Gerais é recomendada, onde, nos últimos anos, tem-se observado urna profunda intervenção do homem sobre o ambiente natural, paralelamente ao aumento da população deste triatomíneo nos peridomicílios.

A study was undertaken about T. sordida in the natural environment in two different regions of the state of Minas Gerais: Itapagipe (Triângulo), an area of cerrado modified by the formation of fields of pasture and agriculture, and Mato Verde (north) an area of transition between caatinga and cerrado with profound deforestation in the last years due to the expansion of cotton cultivation. In both regions the principal ecotopes identified were hollow trees and the bark of live or dead trees, where the occurrence of a food source is not frequent. In this environment, the triatomines utilize various food sources; opposums appear to represent an important source of infection. In the north of Minas, a greater concentration of reservoirs and vectors was observed than in the Triángulo which could explain the higher level of infection of the triatomines in the north. Close attention to the process of domiciliation of T. sordida in the north of Minas is recommended where an extensive intervention by man in the natural environment has occurred and where a rise in the population of triatomines in the peridomestic environment has been observed in recent years.