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Mosquito transmits Chagas disease; the researchers followed the behavior of the insect for three years
Researchers use the radio microtransmitter to track the barber
Researchers at the University of Texas have successfully charted the movements of the barber, who transmits Chagas disease, to the aid of a radio microtransmitter coupled to the insect. The study followed the behavior of the animal for three years and is the first to use this technique to monitor insect vectors of diseases. The data was published Monday in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Discovered by the Brazilian Dr. Carlos Chagas, Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by the barber. It can also pbad from mother to child, through blood transfusion or through a transplanted organ from an infected donor.
Read also: The poor are the most affected by Chagas disease in Brazil ]
The initial symptoms are similar to those of the flu, but if it does not occur Is not treated, the disease becomes chronic and causes cardiac and digestive changes. The disease has an impact in Latin America and the southern United States.
A difficulty in studying these insects is the fact that they tend to move during the night and to hide all day long. For this new pilot study, the team had the help of three residents who reported the frequent appearance of the barber at home and, after catching the insects, the researchers held radio transmitters of only 0.2 gram on the back of the animals. (19659004) 18 movements were followed in periods ranging from one to 12 days, and the researchers found that in order to facilitate the process of reuptake of the 11 barbers observed in the study
Beetles and bees were already being monitored by radio transmitters in studies, but no such badysis had ever been done with arthropod vectors of disease.
It has been shown that this method is suitable for the study of barbers who, according to the study participants, have a low density of
According to the principal author of the study. study, Assistant Professor of Entomology Gabriel Hamer, badysis of the barber's movement can help actions to avoid the exposure of animals and humans to the vector of disease
Do you know what diseases these mosquitoes transmit?
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