Situation of Mepraia spinolai, a wild vector for Chagas disease in Chile, compared to others vectors, from the perspective of their alimentary profile

Background: There triatomine species, Triatoma infestans, Mepraia spinolai and Mepraia gajardoi, are vectors for Chagas disease in Chile. Aim: To comp are the alimentary profile of Mepraia spinolai, the Chilean wild vector of Chagas disease with that of the several other triatomines. Material and met hods: The alimentary profile of Mepraia spinolai was compared with that of other triatomines using cluster. analysis (Q and R techniques) with the Jac card index. Results: Three basic groups of triatomines were identified dome stic, wild and specialists, such as P. coreodes and C. pilosa. Our wild vec tor M. spinolai was in an intermediate position between wild and domestic c lusters, grouping with T. rubrovaria, T. sordida and P. megistus. The feedi ng sources, animals of the domestic and peri-domestic habitat and wild anim als, corresponded to the clusters of the two groups. Conclusions: Mepraia s pinolai, being a preponderantly wild species, approaches human dwellings an d obtains food from domestic animals and eventually, from human blood.