Comparative studies on the growth and reproductive performances of Rhodnius prolixus reared on different blood sources

Abstract

Host blood source was found to affect both the development and the reproductive performance of Rhodnius prolixus. The insects were reared on citrated human, rabbit, chicken, sheep and horse blood sources, through a membrane feeder, during an entire life cycle, from eggs to adults. Development and reproduction in terms of the number of unfed insects, number of moulting, mortality intermoulting period, number of egg/female, conversion of blood into egg (mg meal/egg) and percentage of hatch as effective physiological parameters were investigated. Our results showed that human or rabbit blood meals were more nutritionally efficient than the other blood samples used because (i) the insects developed faster, presented low mortality and about 80% of them reached the adult stage; and (ii) females oviposited an average of at least 100% more eggs. The inefficiency of chicken and horse blood sources as diets for R. prolixus was manifested in (i) a decrease of the amount of ingested blood and (ii) only a reasonable nutritional quality. The inadequacy of sheep blood was observed by a mortality extremely high, poor moulting response and drastic reduction in egg production.

Microgeographic Spatial Structuring of <I>Triatoma infestans</I> (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Populations Using Wing Geometric Morphometry in the Argentine Chaco

“…Such smaller specimens may be attributed to several processes: 1) mud-and-thatch human habitations (domiciles) dampen outdoor temperatures and provide better conditions and extended activity periods for domestic T. infestans, especially during the cold season (Vázquez-Prokopec et al 2002); 2) bloodmeal size and feeding frequency may increase with greater host availability in domiciles in comparison with some peridomestic habitats (Ceballos et al 2005); 3) the relative density of bugs (Caro-Riaño et al 2009), and 4) size-biased adult bug dispersal (Schachter-Broide et al 2009). In addition, adult developmental times of human-fed bugs were shorter than when fed on other experimental hosts (Lima Gómes et al 1990). Theoretical considerations support that smaller bugs would survive better under laboratory conditions or in human dwellings where host availability is less restricted, whereas natural selection would favor larger phenotypes in sylvatic habitats to withstand temporary food shortages (Dujardin et al 1997b), such as those that occur in goat or pig corrals (Ceballos et al 2005).…”

Strong Host-Feeding Preferences of the Vector Triatoma infestans Modified by Vector Density: Implications for the Epidemiology of Chagas Disease

“…The nutritional quality of blood may differ substantively between host species of R. prolixus [56], with chicken blood having half the hematocrit than mammals and much lower hemoglobin or plasma protein than dogs [57]. Therefore, the aggregate fitness implications of host choices remain to be established.…”

Biology of Triatoma klugi Carcavallo, Jurberg, Lent & Galvão 2001 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) under Laboratory Conditions: Effects of Distinct Blood Sources and Susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli

“…It is well established in the literature that food sources and environmental conditions may have influence on triatomine development (Juarez 1970, Gomes et al 1990, Guarneri et al 2000.…”