Anatomy of the Spermatophore in Triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) and Its Applications to the Study of Chagas Disease Vector Biology

Pereira-Lourenço, Ariane S.; Santos-Mallet, Jacenir Reis dos; Freitas, Simone Patrícia Carneiro

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.13-0133

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…The presence of single-pointed, bifurcated, and trifurcated spines in the median region of gonapophysis 8 in the three species studied, and at the base of gonocoxite 8 in T. jatai , shows the importance of the morphological details detectable by using SEM. These spines are present in the internal genitalia of Rhodnius neglectus (Lent, 1954), and also in the copulatory pouch, indicating that they may assist with spermatophore compression and sperm release [ 25 ]. However, the functions of these spines in copulation or ovulation have not been clarified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

External female genitalia of Triatoma jatai, Triatoma costalimai and Triatoma williami (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

et al. 2020

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Background Taxonomic identification of triatomines is generally performed based on aspects of their external morphology. However, the use of a multidisciplinary approach, considering morphological aspects of the external genitalia, morphometry, genetics, and phylogeography has been suggested, especially for similar and/or cryptic species. The rupestral species Triatoma jatai Gonçalves et al., 2013, Triatoma costalimai Verano & Galvão, 1959 and Triatoma williami Galvão et al., 1965, which are morphologically similar, have been found naturally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) in wild, peridomestic, and intradomestic environments, representing a risk of new outbreaks of Chagas disease. This study presents morphological description complementation of these species, with an emphasis on the structures of the female external genitalia, using scanning electron microscopy. Methods The females of T. jatai and T. costalimai (n = 10 of each) were captured in the Brazilian municipalities of Paranã and Aurora do Tocantins and were identified with the use of a dichotomous key for the Matogrossensis subcomplex. Females of T. williami (n = 5), were obtained from a laboratory colony. The females were cut transversely at the sixth abdominal segment and examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz Institute Electronic Microscopy Platform. Results It was possible to differentiate the three species based on the characteristics of urotergites VII, VIII and IX and urosternite VII, as well as the genital plaques, gonocoxites, and gonapophyses. To our knowledge, morphological differences in the spines present on gonapophysis 8 in triatomines are described here for the first time. Conclusions The results show that external genitalia of females are useful structures to differentiate T. costalimai, T. jatai and T. williami. SEM analysis contributes to and corroborates, together with other tools morphological and molecular, the distinction of the three species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

External female genitalia of Triatoma jatai, Triatoma costalimai and Triatoma williami (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

et al. 2020

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“…Khalifa [45] described the spermatophore in R. prolixus as a pearshaped sac containing spermatozoa enclosed in a proteinaceous mass, and from his study of fixed tissue, Davey [36] proposed that before it is delivered to the female, this spermatophore is formed within the male spermatophore sac that everts from the end of the aedeagus into the female during copulation. While examining spermatophore formation in Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius neglectus, Pereira-Lourenço et al [23] made observations which differ to that reported for R. prolixus. In these bugs, which are closely related to R. prolixus, there is no spermatophore sac and the spermatophores are transferred as a viscous or mucous substance directly to the vagina where they solidify.…”

Section: Delivery Of Male Secretions To the Vaginamentioning

confidence: 74%

“…When pulled in towards the rear of the animal, these genital sclerites cover the sclerites that surround the opening to the genital chamber. The genital chamber in R. prolixus can be referred to as either the bursa copulatrix [20,21] or the vagina [22,23]. In keeping with its functional role, this chapter refers to the genital chamber as the vagina.…”

Section: Overall Design Of the Adult Abdomenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Anatomy of the External and Internal Reproductive Structures in Insect Vectors of Chagas Disease with Particular Reference to Rhodnius prolixus

Chiang¹,

Chiang²

2017

Biological Control of Pest and Vector Insects

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The insect vector of Chagas disease, Rhodnius prolixus, has become a very popular model organism for exploring, among other things, the physiology of insects. Its ability to remain in a state of stasis until after engorging a blood meal has focussed most studies on those physiological and developmental processes triggered by the blood meal leaving the details of its sexual physiology vague. This chapter summarizes the relationship between the male and female by describing their respective reproductive systems and genitalia, and how they function during and after copulation. A number of novel processes are noted, such as the transfer of male secretions without the formation of a spermatophore, pump/valve mechanism in the male aedeagus, sensory and a chemical means by which copulation may be facilitated, and the possible mechanism by which adhesive protein is applied to an egg during ovipositioning. Combined with knowledge of its genome, further studies into the functional anatomy of reproduction in this insect have the potential to increase our understanding of sexual reproduction in Reduviidae bugs, and to suggest new ways to control their population growth and the spread of Chagas disease.

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“…It is believed that spermatophores differ in size, shape and structure, so they can be considered specific markers for the species (Davey, 1958). Pereira-Lourenço et al (2013) point out that the spermatophore of R. neglectus has a stick shape, while that of T. infestans has an ovoid shape. These forms resemble the spermathecae of these two species, since the spermathecae of R. neglectus are elongated and those of T. infestans are completely oval shaped.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Morphology of the spermathecae of twelve species of Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) vectors of Chagas disease

et al. 2017

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Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted by triatomines that have been described in a large number of studies. Most of those studies are related to external morphology and taxonomy, but some biochemical, genetic and physiological studies have also been published. There are a few publications in the literature about the internal organs of Triatominae, for instance the spermathecae, which are responsible for storing and maintaining the viability of the spermatozoids until the fertilization of the oocytes. This work aims to study the spermathecae of twelve species of triatomines obtained from the Triatominae Insectarium of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, Araraquara, using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The spermathecae of the twelve species studied showed three morphological patterns: a) P. herreri sn, P. lignarius, P. megistus, Triatoma brasiliensis, T. juazeirensis, T. sherlocki and T. tibiamaculata have spermathecae with a thin initial portion and an oval-shaped final portion; b) R. montenegrensis, R. nasutus, R. neglectus, R. pictipes and R. prolixus have tubular and winding spermathecae; c) T. infestans has oval spermathecae. In addition to the three morphological patterns, it was noted that each of the twelve species has particular features that differentiate them.

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Anatomy of the Spermatophore in Triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) and Its Applications to the Study of Chagas Disease Vector Biology

Cited by 8 publications

References 26 publications

External female genitalia of Triatoma jatai, Triatoma costalimai and Triatoma williami (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

External female genitalia of Triatoma jatai, Triatoma costalimai and Triatoma williami (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Functional Anatomy of the External and Internal Reproductive Structures in Insect Vectors of Chagas Disease with Particular Reference to Rhodnius prolixus

Morphology of the spermathecae of twelve species of Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) vectors of Chagas disease

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