Biology of Chagas disease vectors: biological cycle and emergence rates of Rhodnius marabaensis Souza et al., 2016 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) under laboratory conditions.

In Latin America, Chagas disease has been mostly transmitted to humans by contact with the feces or urine of triatomine species infected with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. There are currently 156 species in the subfamily Triatominae, distributed in 18 genera and five tribes. The prolixus group of the genus Rhodnius is composed of 11 species.

Reproductive aspects of Chagas disease vectors (Hemiptera, Triatominae) with anatomical teratologies.

As Chagas disease has no cure, vector control is the most effective method of preventing this neglected disease. Generally the anatomical teratologies are associated with hormonal dysfunction of the corpus allatum (juvenile hormone), presents genetic basis or unfavorable conditions, and are recessive and not sex linked. Thus, we characterize the male gonads and spermatogenesis of triatomines with anatomical teratologies to evaluate if the malformations interfere in the gametogenesis of these vectors.