Evaluation of presence of protein 24 from HIV in feces of Triatoma infestans fed blood from HIV positive patients

Objective To verify any possibility of the elimination of p24 in feces of T riatoma Triatoma infestans, p24 being an antigen and one of the markers of HIV infection. The purpose of the study was the evaluation of any risk of c ontamination by laboratory staff who work with activities related to this p articular insect, and also investigate any mechanism that might thus lead t o the dissemination of HIV Method Triatoma infestans were fed with p24-marked blood from 23 AIDS patie nts. Twenty-four and 48 hours later their feces were examined in order to v erify the presence of the antigen. The search for p24 was performed by mean s of the immunoenzymatic technique. Result and conclusion No protein 24 was detected in arty of the samples. In accordance with the applied methodology, the purpose of showing that the e limination of p24 does not occur; was obtained. Were this question approach ed in other ways different results might reveal new information in terms of risks of HIV dissemination.