Molecular and cytogenetic evidence for sibling species in the Chagas disease vector Triatoma maculata.

Triatoma maculata (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) occurs across dry-to-semiarid ecoregions of northern South America, where it transmits Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease. Using 207 field-caught specimens from throughout the species' range, mitochondrial(mt) DNA sequence data, and cytogenetics, we investigated inter-population genetic diversity and the phylogenetic affinities of T. maculata.

Chagas disease control-surveillance in the Americas: the multinational initiatives and the practical impossibility of interrupting vector-borne Trypanosoma cruzi transmission.

Chagas disease (CD) still imposes a heavy burden on most Latin American countries. Vector-borne and mother-to-child transmission cause several thousand new infections per year, and at least 5 million people carry Trypanosoma cruzi. Access to diagnosis and medical care, however, is far from universal.

First Report of an Asymptomatic Infection Using a Nasal Swab in Amazon, Brazil.

Unlabelled: The state of Pará has recorded seven species that cause tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL). species induce distinct immunological responses from the host and exhibit resistance to Glucantime, the first-line drug treatment for TL in Brazil.

Objective: Identify the etiology of TL in an Amazonian city in the state of Pará.

Deforestation effects on Attalea palms and their resident Rhodnius, vectors of Chagas disease, in eastern Amazonia.

Attalea palms provide primary habitat to Rhodnius spp., vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. Flying from palms, these blood-sucking bugs often invade houses and can infect people directly or via food contamination.

First Report of Canine Infection by () in the Brazilian Amazon.

Unlabelled: The American cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are zooanthroponoses transmitted by sand flies. Brazil records thousands of human leishmaniasis cases annually. Dogs are reservoirs of , which causes VL, but their role in the transmission cycle of CL is debatable.

On palms, bugs, and Chagas disease in the Americas.

Palms are ubiquitous across Neotropical landscapes, from pristine forests or savannahs to large cities. Although palms provide useful ecosystem services, they also offer suitable habitat for triatomines and for Trypanosoma cruzi mammalian hosts. Wild triatomines often invade houses by flying from nearby palms, potentially leading to new cases of human Chagas disease.

Gene flow networks among American Aedes aegypti populations.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti, the dengue virus vector, has spread throughout the tropics in historical times. While this suggests man-mediated dispersal, estimating contemporary connectivity among populations has remained elusive. Here, we use a large mtDNA dataset and a Bayesian coalescent framework to test a set of hypotheses about gene flow among American Ae.

Community participation in Chagas disease vector surveillance: systematic review.

Background: Vector control has substantially reduced Chagas disease (ChD) incidence. However, transmission by household-reinfesting triatomines persists, suggesting that entomological surveillance should play a crucial role in the long-term interruption of transmission. Yet, infestation foci become smaller and harder to detect as vector control proceeds, and highly sensitive surveillance methods are needed.

Attraction of Chagas disease vectors (Triatominae) to artificial light sources in the canopy of primary Amazon rainforest.

Adult triatomines occasionally fly into artificially lit premises in Amazonia. This can result in Trypanosoma cruzi transmission to humans either by direct contact or via foodstuff contamination, but the frequency of such behaviour has not been quantified. To address this issue, a light-trap was set 45 m above ground in primary rainforest near Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil and operated monthly for three consecutive nights over the course of one year (432 trap-hours).

Research needs for Chagas disease prevention.

We present an overview of the two main strategies for the primary (vector control) and secondary (patient care) prevention of Chagas disease (CD). We identify major advances, knowledge gaps, and key research needs in both areas. Improved specific chemotherapy, including more practical formulations (e.