A method used in the diagnosis of Chagas’ Disease (South American Trypanosomiasis), in which vector reduviid bugs are allowed to suck the blood from patients suspected of having the infection. The insects are subsequently examined for the presence of trypanosomes in their gut to confirm infection.
n. a procedure for diagnosing infections transmitted by insect carriers. Uninfected insects of the species known to carry the disease in question are allowed to suck the blood of a patient suspected of having the disease. A positive diagnosis is made if the disease parasites appear in the insects. This method has proved invaluable for diagnosing Chagas’ disease, using reduviid bugs (the carriers), since the parasites are not always easily detected in blood smears.
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