Variety is the spice: The role of morphological variation of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) at a macro-scale.

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). One of the primary vectors of T. cruzi in South America is Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834).

First winter record of Latrodectus mirabilis (Araneae: Theridiidae) in arid Patagonia: A consequence of climate change and urbanization?

Cases of araneism reported in the province of Chubut (Argentina) have tripled in the last two decades, and almost 80 % of them involve Latrodectus mirabilis (Holmberg) (Araneae: Theridiidae). According to descriptions of the life cycle of this species in Argentina, the low temperatures typical of autumn-winter cause the death of all adult spiders, so that no adult specimens of L. mirabilis are observed in winter.

Categorization by Score of Mosquito Species (Diptera: Culicidae) Related to Yellow Fever Epizootics in Argentina.

The mosquito-borne yellow fever virus (YFV) is the cause of a zoonotic disease, with both sylvatic and urban cycles. Some mosquito species have been associated directly with transmission of the virus in South America, although the importance given to each species varies depending on the bibliography, geographical location, or year of publication. For Argentina, few publications have assessed the involvement of mosquito species, especially those included in the sylvatic cycle.

Database of Sabethes and Haemagogus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina: Sylvatic Vectors of the Yellow Fever Virus.

Yellow fever is an endemic disease in America caused by an arbovirus that circulates in the sylvatic cycle between nonhuman primates and mosquitoes of the genera Sabethes Robineau-Desvoidy and Haemagogus Williston. The main goal of this work is to report the distribution patterns of these genera in Argentina through an updated database built from published records as well as from own sample collections. These genera are represented in Argentina by a total of 18 species distributed in 14 provinces and 10 ecoregions.

Host range of Triatoma virus does not extend to Aedes aegypti and Apis mellifera.

Vector control is the most effective method to prevent transmission of Chagas disease. Control is mostly made through chemical insecticides although they have negative impact on wild pollinators, such as bees. Reducing pesticide use through biological alternatives could minimize the damage to these beneficial insects.

Can Triatoma virus inhibit infection of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) in Triatoma infestans (Klug)? A cross infection and co-infection study.

Triatoma virus occurs infecting Triatominae in the wild (Argentina) and in insectaries (Brazil). Pathogenicity of Triatoma virus has been demonstrated in laboratory; accidental infections in insectaries produce high insect mortality. When more than one microorganism enters the same host, the biological interaction among them differs greatly depending on the nature and the infection order of the co-existing species of microorganisms.

Modelling the potential geographic distribution of triatomines infected by Triatoma virus in the southern cone of South America.

Background: Triatoma virus (TrV) is the only entomopathogenous virus identified in triatomines. We estimated the potential geographic distribution of triatomine species naturally infected by TrV, using remotely sensed and meteorological environmental variables, to predict new potential areas where triatomines infected with TrV may be found.

Methods: Detection of TrV infection in samples was performed with RT-PCR.

Phylogenetics based on partial ORF2 of triatoma virus in triatomines collected over a decade from domiciliary habitats.

The only virus sequenced and studied in triatomines is the Triatoma virus, from the Dicistroviridae family, which causes delayed development, reduced oviposition, and premature death of infected insects. With the goal of expanding the sequences already obtained in previous years and verifying if any changes occurred in their genomic sequences, 68 samples of triatomines from several provinces of Argentina were analyzed. Sixteen positive samples were obtained by Reverse Transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction using the VP3-VP1 subregion of open reading frame-2 as a diagnostic method; after sequencing, 11 samples were obtained from Triatoma infestans.

First study of different insect cells to triatoma virus infection.

The use of viruses for biological control is a new option to be considered. The family Dicistroviridae, which affects only invertebrates, is one of the families that have been proposed for this purpose. The Triatoma virus (TrV), a member of this family, affects triatomine transmitters of Chagas disease, which is endemic in Latin America but also expanding its worldwide distribution.

Detection of triatomine infection by Triatoma virus and horizontal transmission: protecting insectaries and prospects for biological control.

Triatoma virus (TrV) is the only triatomine entomopathogenic virus identified so far. Propagation of TrV in insectaries depends on handling procedures and triatomine population dynamics. The effects of propagation can be devastating and entire colonies must often be sacrificed to prevent spread of the virus throughout the insectary.

First description of hemagglutination by a virus belonging to the family Dicistroviridae.

Triatoma virus is the only virus whose genome has been sequenced and studied in triatomines. It belongs to the family Dicistroviridae. In order to detect whether TrV has the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes of domestic and laboratory animals, we performed a hemagglutination assay.

New Triatoma virus hosts in wild habitats of Argentina.

Triatoma virus (TrV), a member of the Dicistroviridae family, replicates in intestinal epithelial cells, causing delayed development and death of infected individuals. The aims of this study were to find naturally infected species of Triatominae in the wild in the region endemic for Chagas disease and analyze and compare the sequence diversity of TrV obtained from different Triatominae. A total of 253 Triatominae belonging to 10 species were captured by active or passive collection.