Climate and Environmental Changes and Their Potential Effects on the Dynamics of Chagas Disease: Hybridization in Rhodniini (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

Chagas disease affects about eight million people. In view of the issues related to the influence of anthropogenic changes in the dynamics of the distribution and reproductive interaction of triatomines, we performed experimental crosses between species of the Rhodniini tribe in order to evaluate interspecific reproductive interactions and hybrid production capacity. Reciprocal crossing experiments were conducted among , , , , ; × and × .

Karyotype Evolution in Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae): The Role of Chromosomal Rearrangements in the Diversification of Chagas Disease Vectors.

Several cytogenetic studies have already been performed in Triatominae, such that different karyotypes could be characterized (ranging from 2n = 21 to 25 chromosomes), being the changes in the number of chromosomes related mainly to fusion and fission events. These changes have been associated with reproductive isolation and speciation events in other insect groups. Thus, we evaluated whether different karyotypes could act in the reproductive isolation of triatomines and we analyzed how the events of karyotypic evolution occurred along the diversification of these vectors.

Do not judge a book by its cover: would Triatoma tibiamaculata (Pinto, 1926) belong to Triatoma Laporte, 1832, or to Panstrongylus Berg, 1879, with misleading homoplasies?

Background: Triatoma tibiamaculata is a species distributed in ten Brazilian states which has epidemiological importance as it has already been found infecting household areas. The taxonomy of this triatomine has been quite unstable: it was initially described as Eutriatoma tibiamaculata. Later, the species was transferred from the genus Eutriatoma to Triatoma.

Revisiting the Hybridization Processes in the Complex (Hemiptera, Triatominae): Reproductive Isolation between and and .

is a species morphologically similar to (which resulted in a synonymization event); despite this similarity, genetic, morphological, and experimental crossbreeding studies confirmed the specific status of . Considering that both species have been reported living in sympatry and that, for a long time, most species of the complex were considered only chromatic variants of , we carried out experimental crosses between and (to confirm whether these species are reproductively isolated) and between and (to assess whether also presents prezygotic isolation with the other species of the complex). Reciprocal experimental crosses were conducted, and weekly, the eggs were collected, counted, and separated in new containers to assess the hatch rate.

Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera, Triatominae) from La Paz, Bolivia: an incipient species or an intraspecific chromosomal polymorphism?

Background: Triatoma sordida is one of the main Chagas disease vectors in Brazil. In addition to Brazil, this species has already been reported in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is hypothesized that the insects currently identified as T.

Revisiting the hybridization processes in the Triatoma brasiliensis complex (Hemiptera, Triatominae): Interspecific genomic compatibility point to a possible recent diversification of the species grouped in this monophyletic complex.

Triatomines are hematophagous insects of great epidemiological importance, since they are vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Triatoma brasiliensis complex is a monophyletic group formed by two subspecies and six species: T. b.

Trends in evolution of the Rhodniini tribe (Hemiptera, Triatominae): experimental crosses between Psammolestes tertius Lent & Jurberg, 1965 and P. coreodes Bergroth, 1911 and analysis of the reproductive isolating mechanisms.

Background: The tribe Rhodniini is a monophyletic group composed of 24 species grouped into two genera: Rhodnius and Psammolestes. The genus Psammolestes includes only three species, namely P. coreodes, P.

Segregation of phenotypic characteristics in hybrids of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae).

There are currently 156 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes included in the subfamily Triatominae. All of them are potential vectors of Chagas disease. Triatoma is paraphyletic and the species of this genus have been grouped into complexes and subcomplexes.

sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Triatominae): A New Species of Argentinian Chagas Disease Vector Described Based on Integrative Taxonomy.

Chagas disease is the most prevalent neglected tropical disease in the Americas and makes an important contribution to morbidity and mortality rates in countries where it is endemic since 30 to 40% of patients develop cardiac diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, or both. In this paper, a new species of the genus is described based on specimens collected in the Department San Miguel, Province of Corrientes, Argentina. sp.

Revisiting the genetic variability of Brazilian peridomestic populations of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma sordida () (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

Triatoma sordida is an endemic species to South America, currently considered the species most frequently found in the peridomestic environment in Brazil. This triatomine has a wide ecological tolerability that allows it to inhabit several ecotopes and use different food sources. Although the species is considered predominantly peridomestic, it is also capable of colonizing households and forming numerous intra-household colonies, leading to its inclusion among the priorities for triatomine control campaigns in Brazil.

Parasite × vector relationship in Chagas disease: does Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) infection affect the spermatogenesis of Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834)?

The parasite-vector interaction of Chagas disease is still poorly understood and the understanding of this relationship can help in the development of new strategies to control Trypanosoma cruzi transmission, which is the etiological agent of this disease. Considering the need to know if T. cruzi can cause some pathology in the reproductive system of the Chagas disease vectors, we investigated the spermatogenesis of Triatoma infestans infected by T.

Prezygotic isolation confirms the exclusion of Triatoma melanocephala, T. vitticeps and T. tibiamaculata of the T. brasiliensis subcomplex (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by triatomines. Triatoma is a paraphyletic group and the species of this genus are grouped into complexes and subcomplexes. Morphological data and geographical distribution grouped initially T.

Molecular cytotaxonomy of the Triatoma brasiliensis species subcomplex (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

The Triatoma genus is paraphyletic, and its species are grouped into complexes and subcomplexes. Given the fact that species that make up a given subcomplex generally share chromosomal traits, we analyzed the distribution of AT- and CG-rich DNA of the T. brasiliensis species subcomplex, in order to establish affinities among members of the T.

Cytotaxonomy of (Chagas, 1909): Differentiation of I (TcI) and II (TcII) Genotypes Using Cytogenetic Markers.

Chagas disease is a public health problem caused by the , and the I (TcI) and II (TcII) groups are considered important genotypes from the clinical point of view. Currently, the groups need to be molecularly analyzed for their identification; thus, we cytogenetically analyzed these groups with the objective of developing more accessible techniques for the characterization of these parasites. TcI and TcII groups were differentiated by nucleus characterization with lacto-acetic orcein (TcI-nucleus with positive heteropycnosis and TcII-nucleus with negative heteropycnosis), emphasizing the importance of the application of this technique for epidemiological and clinical studies of Chagas disease.

Reproductive Aspects of Chagas Disease Vectors: Evidence of Transcriptional Activity during the Nucleolar Persistence Phenomenon in the Spermatogenesis of Triatomines.

The subfamily Triatominae currently consists of 154 species, most of them being of great importance for public health because they are considered potential vectors of the protozoan , the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. In addition to their epidemiological importance, these insects are considered important biological models for cell studies because they have peculiar characteristics in their cells, for example, persistence of the nucleolus during spermatogenesis. This phenomenon is characterized by the presence of the nucleolus or nucleolar corpuscles during all phases of meiosis.

Erratum to "Epidemiological and Clinical-Pathological Aspects of Infection in Brazilian Children and Adults".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/8454125.].

Revisiting the Homoploid Hybrid Speciation Process of the Galvão, 1956 (Hemiptera, Triatominae) Using Cytogenetic and Molecular Markers.

Triatomines are vectors of , the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Although the evolutionary process in triatomine is considered as disruptive, cryptic speciation and homoploid hybridization also are possible modes of speciation. Several analyses suggested as a product of hybridization between and .

Epidemiological and Clinical-Pathological Aspects of Infection in Brazilian Children and Adults.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of infection in the pediatric and adult population seen at a public hospital in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.

Methods: This is a retrospective study that evaluated 2406 medical records of children, adolescents, and adults with dyspeptic symptoms who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. diagnosis and demographic and clinical-pathological features were recorded.

Parasite-Vector Interaction of Chagas Disease: A Mini-Review.

is a protozoan of great importance to public health: it has infected millions of people in the world and is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, which can cause cardiac and gastrointestinal disorders in patients and may even lead to death. The main vector of transmission of this parasite is triatomine bugs, which have a habit of defecating while feeding on blood and passing the parasite to their own hosts through their feces. Although it has been argued that is not pathogenic for this vector, other studies indicate that the success of the infection depends on several molecules and factors, including the insect's intestinal microbiota, which may experience changes as a result of infection that include decreased fitness.

Nucleolar Persistence: Peculiar Characteristic of Spermatogenesis of the Vectors of Chagas Disease (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

All species of triatomines are considered potential vectors of Chagas disease and the reproductive biology of these bugs has been studied by different approaches. In 1999, nucleolar persistence during meiosis was observed in the subfamily for the first time. Recently, it has been observed that all species within the genus Rhodnius exhibit the same phenomenon, suggesting that it may be a synapomorphy of the triatomines.