Trends in Taxonomy of Chagas Disease Vectors (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): From Linnaean to Integrative Taxonomy

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by members of the subfamily Triatominae. There are currently 157 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. Most descriptions of triatomine species are based on classical taxonomy. Facing evolutionary (cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity) and taxonomic (more than 190 synonymizations) problems, it is evident that integrative taxonomy studies are an important and necessary trend for this group of vectors. Almost two-and-a-half centuries after the description of the first species, we present for the first time the state-of-the-art taxonomy of the whole subfamily, covering from the initial classic studies to the use of integrative taxonomy.

Download Full-text

First Report ofAprostocetus asthenogmus(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in South America and Parasitizing Eggs of Triatominae Vectors of Chagas Disease

Journal of Parasitology Research ◽

10.1155/2014/547439 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Claudiney Biral dos Santos ◽

Marcelo Teixeira Tavares ◽

Gustavo Rocha Leite ◽

Adelson Luiz Ferreira ◽

Leonardo de Souza Rocha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Triatoma Infestans ◽

Disease Vectors ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Triatomine Species ◽

Chagas Disease Vectors ◽

First Time

We report for the first time the parasitism of eggs of two triatomine Chagas disease vectors,Triatoma infestansandT. vitticeps, by the microhymenopterous parasitoidAprostocetus asthenogmus. We also describe the first identification of this parasitoid in South America.A. asthenogmuswere captured near unparasitized triatomine colonies in the municipality of Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and placed into pots with recently laid triatomine eggs. After 24 days, we observed wasps emerging fromT. infestansandT. vitticepseggs. Several characteristics of this parasitoid species suggest that it could be a potential biological control agent of triatomine species.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Chagas disease vectors occurrence data: the Argentinean triatomine species database

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.8.e58076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Soledad Ceccarelli ◽

Agustín Balsalobre ◽

Maria Cano ◽

Delmi Canale ◽

Patricia Lobbia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chagas Disease ◽

Disease Vectors ◽

Ecological Analysis ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Occurrence Data ◽

Triatomine Species ◽

Chagas Disease Vectors ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

And Control ◽

Panstrongylus Geniculatus

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease and Trypanosoma cruzi (its etiological agent) is mainly transmitted by triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). All triatomine species are considered as potential vectors; thus, their geographic distribution and habitat information should be a fundamental guide for the surveillance and control of Chagas disease. Currently, of the 137 species distributed in the Americas (Justi and Galvão 2017), 17 species are cited for Argentina: Panstrongylus geniculatus, P. guentheri, P. megistus, P. rufotuberculatus, Psammolestes coreodes, Triatoma breyeri, T. delpontei, T. eratyrusiformis, T. garciabesi, T. guasayana, T. infestans, T. limai, T. patagonica, T. platensis, T. rubrofasciata, T. rubrovaria and T. sordida. Almost 20 years have passed since the publication of the “Atlas of the Triatominae” by Carcavallo et al. (1998) and no work has been done to provide an updated complete integration and analysis of the existing information for Argentinean triatomine species. Here we provide a detailed temporal, spatial and ecological analysis of updated occurrence data for triatomines present in Argentina. This is the first database of the 17 triatomine species present in Argentina (15917 records), with a critical analysis of the temporal, spatial and ecological characteristics of 9788 records. The information spans the last 100 years (1918–2019) and it was mostly obtained from the DataTri database and from the Argentinean Vector Reference Center. As 70% of the occurrences corresponded to the last 20 years, the information was split into two broad periods (pre-2000 and post-2000). Occurrence data for most species show distribution range contractions, which, from the pre-2000 to post-2000 period, became restricted mainly to the dry and humid Chaco ecoregions. Concurrently, the highest species richness foci occurred within those ecoregions. The species T. infestans, T. sordida, T. garciabesi and T. guasayana mostly colonise human dwelling habitats. This study provides the most comprehensive picture available for Argentinean triatomine species and we hope that any knowledge gaps will encourage others to keep this information updated to assist health policy-makers to make decisions based on the best evidence.

Download Full-text