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Abad-Franch F, Monteiro FA, Pavan MG, Patterson JS, Bargues MD, Zuriaga MÁ, Aguilar M, Beard CB, Mas-Coma S, Miles MA. Under pressure: phenotypic divergence and convergence associated with microhabitat adaptations in Triatominae. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:195. [PMID: 33832518 PMCID: PMC8034103 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04647-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triatomine bugs, the vectors of Chagas disease, associate with vertebrate hosts in highly diverse ecotopes. It has been proposed that occupation of new microhabitats may trigger selection for distinct phenotypic variants in these blood-sucking bugs. Although understanding phenotypic variation is key to the study of adaptive evolution and central to phenotype-based taxonomy, the drivers of phenotypic change and diversity in triatomines remain poorly understood. Methods/results We combined a detailed phenotypic appraisal (including morphology and morphometrics) with mitochondrial cytb and nuclear ITS2 DNA sequence analyses to study Rhodnius ecuadoriensis populations from across the species’ range. We found three major, naked-eye phenotypic variants. Southern-Andean bugs primarily from vertebrate-nest microhabitats (Ecuador/Peru) are typical, light-colored, small bugs with short heads/wings. Northern-Andean bugs from wet-forest palms (Ecuador) are dark, large bugs with long heads/wings. Finally, northern-lowland bugs primarily from dry-forest palms (Ecuador) are light-colored and medium-sized. Wing and (size-free) head shapes are similar across Ecuadorian populations, regardless of habitat or phenotype, but distinct in Peruvian bugs. Bayesian phylogenetic and multispecies-coalescent DNA sequence analyses strongly suggest that Ecuadorian and Peruvian populations are two independently evolving lineages, with little within-lineage phylogeographic structuring or differentiation. Conclusions We report sharp naked-eye phenotypic divergence of genetically similar Ecuadorian R. ecuadoriensis (nest-dwelling southern-Andean vs palm-dwelling northern bugs; and palm-dwelling Andean vs lowland), and sharp naked-eye phenotypic similarity of typical, yet genetically distinct, southern-Andean bugs primarily from vertebrate-nest (but not palm) microhabitats. This remarkable phenotypic diversity within a single nominal species likely stems from microhabitat adaptations possibly involving predator-driven selection (yielding substrate-matching camouflage coloration) and a shift from palm-crown to vertebrate-nest microhabitats (yielding smaller bodies and shorter and stouter heads). These findings shed new light on the origins of phenotypic diversity in triatomines, warn against excess reliance on phenotype-based triatomine-bug taxonomy, and confirm the Triatominae as an informative model system for the study of phenotypic change under ecological pressure. ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04647-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Abad-Franch
- Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. .,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Fernando A Monteiro
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. .,Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, USA.
| | - Márcio G Pavan
- Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - James S Patterson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - M Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Ángeles Zuriaga
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marcelo Aguilar
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.,Instituto Juan César García, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Charles B Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, USA
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Michael A Miles
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Monteiro FA, Weirauch C, Felix M, Lazoski C, Abad-Franch F. Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography of the Triatominae, Vectors of Chagas Disease. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2019. [PMID: 29530308 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we review and update current knowledge about the evolution, systematics, and biogeography of the Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)-true bugs that feed primarily on vertebrate blood. In the Americas, triatomines are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Despite declining incidence and prevalence, Chagas disease is still a major public health concern in Latin America. Triatomines occur also in the Old World, where vector-borne T. cruzi transmission has not been recorded. Triatomines evolved from predatory reduviid bugs, most likely in the New World, and diversified extensively across the Americas (including the Caribbean) and in parts of Asia and Oceania. Here, we first discuss our current understanding of how, how many times, and when the blood-feeding habit might have evolved among the Reduviidae. Then we present a summary of recent advances in the systematics of this diverse group of insects, with an emphasis on the contribution of molecular tools to the clarification of taxonomic controversies. Finally, and in the light of both up-to-date phylogenetic hypotheses and a thorough review of distribution records, we propose a global synthesis of the biogeography of the Triatominae. Over 130 triatomine species contribute to maintaining T. cruzi transmission among mammals (sometimes including humans) in almost every terrestrial ecoregion of the Americas. This means that Chagas disease will never be eradicated and underscores the fact that effective disease prevention will perforce require stronger, long-term vector control-surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Araujo Monteiro
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Sistemática Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | | | - Márcio Felix
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade Entomológica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Lazoski
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Genetics and evolution of triatomines: from phylogeny to vector control. Heredity (Edinb) 2011; 108:190-202. [PMID: 21897436 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2011.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Triatomines are hemipteran bugs acting as vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite causes Chagas disease, one of the major parasitic diseases in the Americas. Studies of triatomine genetics and evolution have been particularly useful in the design of rational vector control strategies, and are reviewed here. The phylogeography of several triatomine species is now slowly emerging, and the struggle to reconcile the phenotypic, phylogenetic, ecological and epidemiological species concepts makes for a very dynamic field. Population genetic studies using different markers indicate a wide range of population structures, depending on the triatomine species, ranging from highly fragmented to mobile, interbreeding populations. Triatomines transmit T. cruzi in the context of complex interactions between the insect vectors, their bacterial symbionts and the parasites; however, an integrated view of the significance of these interactions in triatomine biology, evolution and in disease transmission is still lacking. The development of novel genetic markers, together with the ongoing sequencing of the Rhodnius prolixus genome and more integrative studies, will provide key tools to expanding our understanding of these important insect vectors and allow the design of improved vector control strategies.
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Gómez-Sucerquia LJ, Triana-Chávez O, Jaramillo-Ocampo N. Quantification of the genetic change in the transition of Rhodnius pallescens Barber, 1932 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from field to laboratory. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2010; 104:871-7. [PMID: 19876559 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000600009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2009] [Accepted: 08/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported genetic differences between wild-caught sylvatic, domestic and laboratory pop-ulations of several Triatominae species. The differences between sylvatic and laboratory colonies parallel are similar to the differences observed between sylvatic and domestic populations. Laboratory colonies are frequently used as references for field populations, but the consequences of founder events on the genetic makeup of laboratory or domestic populations are rarely quantified. Our goal was to quantify the genetic change in Rhodnius pallescens populations artificially submitted to founder effects via laboratory colonization. We compared the genetic makeup of two sylvatic populations and their laboratory descendants using a panel of 10 microsatellite markers. Both sylvatic populations were initially collected from palm trees, but the colonies differed in the number of founder insects and amount of time kept in the laboratory. We evaluated allelic polymorphism, differences between expected and observed heterozygosity, estimates of population differentiation (Fst) and inbreeding (Fis, Fit) and cluster analyses based on Nei's distances. We found a unique genetic structure for each sample population, with significant differentiation between the field insects and each of the laboratory generations. These analyses showed strong founder effects and showed that genetic drift had led to a genetic equilibrium over several generations of isolation. Our results suggest that laboratory colonies of R. pallescens have a different genetic structure than their wild relatives and similar processes likely affect other Triatominae laboratory stocks.
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Tartarotti E, Neto FL, Ceron CR. Esterase patterns in species of the triatome bug Rhodnius. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2010; 24:26-31. [PMID: 20377728 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2009.00827.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyse esterase patterns in three triatomine species of Rhodnius genus. Four loci, Est 1, Est 2, Est 3 and Est 4, were found. The corresponding enzymes were characterized as carboxylesterases (E.C. 3.1.1.1) or cholinesterases (E.C. 3.1.1.8) based on inhibitory experiments, using eserine sulphate, malathion, mercury chloride, p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB) and iodoacetamide. Low genetic variability was observed: Est 1, Est 2 and Est 3 were monomorphic in Rhodnius domesticus, Rhodnius robustus and Rhodnius neivai, whereas locus Est 4 was polymorphic in the first two species. The UPGMA analysis based on esterase genotypic frequencies indicated greater similarity between R. domesticus and R. robustus when compared with R. neivai. The present study expands our knowledge about genetic variability among triatomines and accords with the hypothesis that R. domesticus is a species derived from R. robustus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Tartarotti
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Abstract
Chagas disease control initiatives are yielding promising results. Molecular research has helped successful programs by identifying and characterizing introduced vector populations and by defining intervention targets accurately. However, researchers and health officials are facing new challenges throughout Latin America. Native vectors persistently reinfest insecticide-treated households, and sylvatic triatomines maintain disease transmission in humid forest regions (including Amazonia) without colonizing human dwellings. In these scenarios, fine-scale vector studies are essential to define epidemiological risk patterns and clarify the involvement of little-known triatomine taxa in disease transmission. These eco-epidemiological investigations, as well as the planning and monitoring of control interventions, rely by necessity on accurate taxonomic judgments. The problems of cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity illustrate this need - and how molecular systematics can provide the fitting answers. Molecular data analyses also illuminate basic aspects of vector evolution and adaptive trends. Here we review the applications of molecular markers (concentrating on allozymes and DNA sequencing) to the study of triatomines. We analyze the suitability, strengths and weaknesses of the various techniques for taxonomic, systematic and evolutionary investigations at different levels (populations, species, and higher taxonomic categories).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Abad-Franch
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade em Saúde, Centro de Pesquisa Leônidas e Maria Deane Fiocruz-Amazônia, Manaus, AM 69057-070, Brasil
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Monteiro FA, Lazoski C, Noireau F, Solé-Cava AM. Allozyme relationships among ten species of Rhodniini, showing paraphyly of Rhodnius including Psammolestes. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2002; 16:83-90. [PMID: 11963985 DOI: 10.1046/j.0269-283x.2002.00343.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Genetic relationships among 10 species of bugs belonging to the tribe Rhodniini (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), including some important vectors of Chagas disease, were inferred from allozyme analysis of 12 enzyme loci (out of 21 enzyme systems examined), using agarose gel electrophoresis. These species formed two clusters: one comprising Rhodnius brethesi, R. ecuadoriensis, R. pallescens and R. pictipes; the other with Psammolestes tertius, Rhodnius domesticus and the Rhodnius prolixus group comprising R. nasutus, R. neglectus, R. prolixus and R. robustus. The resulting tree was [((R. ecuadoriensis, R. pallescens) R. brethesi) R. pictipes], [R. domesticus (P. tertius [(R. nasutus, R. neglectus) (R. prolixus, R. robustus)])]. Rhodnius nasutus and R. neglectus differed by only one locus, whereas no diagnostic loci were detected between R. prolixus and R. robustus (22 loci were analysed for these four species), despite considerable DNA sequence divergence between species in each of these pairs. Allozymes of the R. prolixus group showed greater similarity with Psammolestes tertius than with other Rhodnius spp., indicating that Rhodnius is paraphyletic and might include Psammolestes.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Monteiro
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Depto. de Genética, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Matias A, de la Rive JX, Torrez M, Dujardin JP. Rhodnius robustus in Bolivia identified by its wings. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2001; 96:947-50. [PMID: 11685259 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762001000700010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Wings of a Rhodnius specimen from Alto Beni (Bolivia) was examined for identification and compared with R. stali, R. robustus, (certified Bolivian species), R. pictipes and R. prolixus (suspected Bolivian species). A projection of the unidentified wings as supplementary data into a discriminant analysis of shape revealed clear cut differences with R. stali and R. pictipes, less differences with R. prolixus, and none with R. robustus. Combining global size and shape of the wings, the unknown specimen was identified as R. robustus. Thus, this study confirmed the presence of R. robustus in Bolivia. It also highlighted the possibility of morphometrics to taxonomically interpret one individual, or even one piece of an individual, when related species data are available for comparison.
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Monteiro FA, Escalante AA, Beard CB. Molecular tools and triatomine systematics: a public health perspective. Trends Parasitol 2001; 17:344-7. [PMID: 11423378 DOI: 10.1016/s1471-4922(01)01921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Triatomines, or kissing bugs, are vectors of Chagas disease to humans. This disease is a substantial public health problem affecting up to 12 million people throughout the Americas, and its control relies mainly on the insecticide treatment of triatomine-infested houses within villages. In this article, Fernando Monteiro, Ananias Escalante and Ben Beard review how molecular markers have been used to clarify triatomine systematics, and give examples of how our understanding of triatomine population structure and accurate vector identification can be used to optimize vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Monteiro
- Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Mail Stop F-22, Chamblee, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA
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Dujardin J, Le Pont F, Martinez E. Quantitative phenetics and taxonomy of some phlebotomine taxa. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1999; 94:735-41. [PMID: 10585648 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761999000600006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the evolution of Phlebotominae is important not only to revise their taxonomy, but also to help understand the origin of the genus Leishmania and its relationship with humans. Our study is a phenetic portrayal of this history based on the genetic relationships among some New Word and Old Word taxa. We used both multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and morphometry on 24 male specimens of the Old Word genus Phlebotomus (with three of its subgenera: Phlebotomus, Spelaeophlebotomus and Australophlebotomus), and on 67 male specimens of the three New World genera, Warileya, Brumptomyia and Lutzomyia, (with three subgenera of Lutzomyia: Lutzomyia, Oligodontomyia and Psychodopygus). Phenetic trees derived from both techniques were similar, but disclosed relationships that disagree with the present classification of sand flies. The need for a true evolutionary approach is stressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dujardin
- UMR IRD-CNRS 9926, IRD Montpellier, France.
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