Current research on Amazonian Triatominae

Barrett, Toby Vincent

doi:10.1590/s0074-02761988000500043

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Visual inspection of the band profiles showed that all species could be clearly distinguished, including members of the prolixus group, 12 which are difficult to distinguish by other means (Figure 1). The number of protein bands varied according to species when analyzed by two-tailed analysis Figure 2 and Table 2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DISCUSSION Morphologically, R. prolixus is very similar to R. robustus, R. neglectus, and R. nasutus, which are sometimes considered as the prolixus group. 12 Distinction of these species was made using male genitalia morphology and geographic distribution. 13 Rhodnius prolixus and R. robustus occur in the more humid areas of the Amazon basin northwards into Central America, while R. neglectus seems to be confined to the savanna-like cerrado regions of central Brazil and R. nasutus occupies similar habitats in the drier caatinga of northeastern Brazil.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Identification of morphologically similar Rhodnius species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) by electrophoresis of salivary heme proteins.

Soares¹,

Sant’Anna²,

Gontijo³

et al. 2000

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We examined intraspecific variability in the genus Rhodnius using starch gel electrophoresis of salivary heme proteins. Salivary protein profiles of 8 Rhodnius species (R. prolixus, R. robustus, R. neglectus, R. nasutus, R. ecuadoriensis, R. pallescens, R. pictipes, and R. domesticus) were compared. All species could be distinguished by this technique. The greatest protein polymorphism was found in R. ecuadoriensis, R. nasutus, R. robustus, and R. pictipes, followed by R. prolixus, R. neglectus, R. pallescens, and R. domesticus. This approach was able to distinguish R. prolixus from R. robustus and R. neglectus from R. nasutus, species with extreme phenotypical similarity.The genus Rhodnius Stål currently includes 13 species widely distributed in South and Central America and distinguishable based on morphologic features. Although all species are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), they differ in their epidemiologic significance. 1,2 Rhodnius prolixus is the most important domestic vector of T. cruzi in Venezuela, Colombia, and parts of Central America, while R. pallescens is an important vector in Panama. The other species are mainly sylvatic in habit. 3 In sylvatic environments, Rhodnius species are most frequently found colonizing palm tree crowns where they feed on a variety of animals. 4 Such adaptation to different hosts may reflect variations in saliva composition, which is related to the feeding process. All species of Rhodnius (and the closely related genus Psammolestes, also within the tribe Rhodniini) have a characteristic red coloration in their salivary glands, which is not found in the salivary glands of other Triatominae. This red coloration is probably due to heme proteins. 5 Some of them, known as nitrophorins, are responsible for many of the antihemostatic activities of Rhodnius saliva such as vasodilation due to the release of nitric oxide, anticoagulant, and antihistamine action. [6][7][8][9] In a previous study, we showed that the electrophoretic profiles of salivary hemeproteins could distinguish R. prolixus from R. robustus, a morphologically similar species. 10 As part of a wider study on the biosystematics of Rhodnius species, we present a study of intraspecific variation of salivary heme proteins in 8 Rhodnius species. MATERIALS AND METHODSInsects. Specimens of Rhodnius were obtained from different regions, as shown in Table 1. Only adults were used in the experiments. We used 15 insects from each species, except for R. prolixus (11 insects) and R. domesticus (10 insects). The insects were reared under the same laboratory conditions (24.0 Ϯ 2.0ЊC; 56.0 Ϯ 6.0% relative humidity) and fed on chickens weekly, except for R. domesticus, which was fed on mice. During gland extraction, all insects had similar nutritional status (7 days of fasting).Sample preparation and electrophoresis. Salivary glands from each insect were dissected out, washed in 0.9% NaCl, and transferred to 5 l of running buffer on a microscope slide in...

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of morphologically similar Rhodnius species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) by electrophoresis of salivary heme proteins.

Soares¹,

Sant’Anna²,

Gontijo³

et al. 2000

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also examined a P. lignarius female (captured in primary rainforest) which has some mixed characters of P. lignarius and herreri. These closely related species showed reproductive compatibility under laboratory conditions (Barrett 1988), but no hybrids have been reported from nature (Lent & Wygodzinsky 1979). Their taxonomic status needs to be clarified as it has epidemiological implications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Ecuador: implications for the design of control strategies

Abad‐Franch

Paucar²,

Carpio³

et al. 2001

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

110

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These five species may therefore be considered as the ones that actually transmit T. cruzi to people in the well-characterised endemic areas. The apparent trend to establish domestic and/or peridomestic colonies observed in the last three species in some areas of the Amazon basin (Barrett 1988, Amunárriz, 1991, Chico et al 1997, Valente et al 1998) is particularly worrying. However, adults have shown their capacity to fly into the houses to feed during the night from their breeding sites (palm trees, bromeliaceae, mammals burrows), without establishing permanent colonies within human-related structures (Lent & Wygodzinsky 1979, Miles et al 1981, Barrett 1988, Schofield 1994.…”

Section: Triatomine Vectors (Hemiptera: Reduvi-idae)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The apparent trend to establish domestic and/or peridomestic colonies observed in the last three species in some areas of the Amazon basin (Barrett 1988, Amunárriz, 1991, Chico et al 1997, Valente et al 1998) is particularly worrying. However, adults have shown their capacity to fly into the houses to feed during the night from their breeding sites (palm trees, bromeliaceae, mammals burrows), without establishing permanent colonies within human-related structures (Lent & Wygodzinsky 1979, Miles et al 1981, Barrett 1988, Schofield 1994. Some environmental changes introduced by man during the last 20 years seem to play a role in this process: colonisation of primary rainforest, deforestation, hunting, agriculture, breeding of domestic animals near the houses or the introduction of electric light may be factors involved (Abad-Franch 1998).…”

Section: Triatomine Vectors (Hemiptera: Reduvi-idae)mentioning

confidence: 99%