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Zacharias CA, Minoli SA, Manrique G. Differences in competitive ability for the occupancy of shelters in triatomines. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 31:252-262. [PMID: 28145576 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) are nocturnal blood-sucking insects. During daylight hours they remain in an akinetic state inside their shelters, whereas at dusk they become active and move outside. When they are outside their shelters during the photophase, triatomines are vulnerable to diurnal predators and the period just before dawn is critical to their survival. This work analyses the existence of competitive interactions involved in the occupancy of shelters by triatomines. Behavioural assays were performed in which nymphs of different stages, nutritional status or species were released in an experimental arena containing a space-limited artificial shelter. The proportions of individuals occupying the shelter during the photophase were quantified to estimate the competitive abilities of each stage and species. Intraspecific comparisons showed higher levels of shelter occupancy for fourth over fifth instars and fed over unfed nymphs of Triatoma infestans. Interspecific comparisons showed higher rates of shelter occupancy for Triatoma sordida in comparison with T. infestans, and for T. infestans over Rhodnius prolixus. Arrival order was also relevant to determining shelter occupancy levels: early arrival was advantageous in comparison with later arrival. The study of intra- and interspecific competitive interactions for shelter occupancy provides relevant information about colonization and recolonization processes in the natural environments of triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Zacharias
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA, CONICET-UBA), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S A Minoli
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA, CONICET-UBA), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Manrique
- Laboratorio de Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada (IBBEA, CONICET-UBA), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Mota T, Lorenzo MG. Lack of segregation between two species of Chagas disease vectors. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 87:109-16. [PMID: 22764300 PMCID: PMC3391033 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus are relevant Chagas disease vectors. An apparent segregation among these triatomine species inside human households was suggested to rely on mutual repellence between them. However, P. megistus and T. infestans show aggregation responses to chemical signals emitted by the other species. These findings do not rule out the possibility that stimuli other than chemical signals could mediate repellence when these species exploit shelters simultaneously. In the present study, we investigated how P. megistus and T. infestans exploit shelters in controlled laboratory conditions and how insect density and environmental illumination modulate this behavior. We evaluated whether these species aggregate inside shelters or mutually repel each other. Panstrongylus megistus and T. infestans show specific patterns of shelter exploitation, which are differentially affected by insect density and environment illumination. In particular, P. megistus is more sensitive to insect density than T. infestans, whereas T. infestans shows higher sensitivity to illumination than P. megistus. Nevertheless, these species exploit shelters randomly without any apparent repellence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Mota
- Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Souza RDCMD, Soares AC, Alves CL, Lorosa ES, Pereira MH, Diotaiuti L. Feeding behavior of Triatoma vitticeps (Reduviidae: Triatominae) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:16-22. [PMID: 21340350 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 08/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of Triatoma vitticeps through the identification of its food sources and the characterization of the blood ingestion process. In addition, we aimed to verify if the saliva of this vector interferes with the perception of the host during the feedings by creating a nervous impulse. Here, we demonstrated that the T. vitticeps saliva reduces, gradually and irreversibly, the amplitude of the compound action potential of the nervous fibre, which helps decrease the perception of the insect by the host. The precipitin reaction demonstrated the feeding eclecticism of this vector, with the identification of eight food sources - most of them found simultaneously in the same insect. The analysis of the electrical signals produced by the cibarial pump during meals demonstrated that the best feeding performance of T. vitticeps nymphs that fed on pigeons is mainly due to the higher contraction frequency of the pump. The longer contact period with the host to obtain a complete meal compared with other triatominae species of the same instar could favor the occurrence of multiple blood sources in T. vitticeps under natural conditions, as it was evidenced by the precipitin test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita de Cássia Moreira de Souza
- Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, 30190-002
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Pereira MH, Gontijo NF, Guarneri AA, Sant'Anna MR, Diotaiuti L. Competitive displacement in Triatominae: the Triatoma infestans success. Trends Parasitol 2006; 22:516-20. [PMID: 16971183 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2006.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2006] [Revised: 08/09/2006] [Accepted: 08/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brazil has just been certificated by Pan American Health Organization as 'free of Chagas disease transmission due to Triatoma infestans'. During the early 1980s, this species of blood-sucking bug alone was considered responsible for approximately 80% of Chagas disease transmission. But it was not always so. The species originally abundant in houses of central and eastern Brazil was Panstrongylus megistus, which seems to have been progressively displaced from houses by T. infestans during the past century. Indeed, T. infestans seems able to displace other Triatominae in artificial environments. Recent studies suggest that it might simply be because T. infestans feeds more efficiently than its Triatominae competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos H Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Guarneri AA, Diotaiuti L, Gontijo NF, Gontijo AF, Pereira MH. Blood-feeding performance of nymphs and adults of Triatoma brasiliensis on human hosts. Acta Trop 2003; 87:361-70. [PMID: 12875930 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(03)00121-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The blood-feeding behaviour of nymphs and adults of Triatoma brasiliensis fed on the forearm of human volunteers was studied by electronic monitoring of the cibarial pump. Parameters of total contact time (TT), initial weight (IW), weight gain (WG), ingestion rate (IR), pump frequency (F), quantity of liquid ingested per cibarial pump stroke (QLC) and non-ingestive time (NIT) (cumulative probing time and pumping interruptions during blood feeding) were measured. Protein profile (SDS-PAGE) and quantity of proteins of salivary gland extracts (QP) were also determined for each stage. The TT reflects the feeding performance of the insects and differed between instars, varying between 18.3+/-2.5 min for the first instar and 33.9+/-2.3 min for the fifth instar. The observed increase in the IR when comparing different instars was related to the increase in the cibarial pump volume inferred from the QLC data. During development, the volume of the cibarial pump grew asymmetrically determining the different contact times observed among the instars. Males and females presented a remarkable sexual dimorphism in respect to the volume of the cibarial pump, females showing a better performance compared to males. Despite the differences, the results show that each of the development stages of T. brasiliensis was able to obtain a relatively fast bloodmeal, with few interruptions and without causing pain, providing further evidence of the capacity of this species to adapt to domestic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra A Guarneri
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Caixa Postal 1743, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Pires HHR, Lorenzo MG, Diotaiuti L, Lazzari CR, Lorenzo Figueiras AN. Aggregation behaviour in Panstrongylus megistus and Triatoma infestans: inter and intraspecific responses. Acta Trop 2002; 81:47-52. [PMID: 11755431 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(01)00185-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We tested the aggregation response to inter and intraspecific chemical signals in Panstrongylus megistus and Triatoma infestans. As previously described for T. infestans, larvae of P. megistus significantly aggregated on papers impregnated with their own excrement and on papers marked with cuticular substances deposited on surfaces on which these insects had walked. T. infestans bugs also aggregated on papers impregnated by faeces or by cuticular substances of P. megistus, and P. megistus aggregated on papers contaminated by faeces or by cuticular substances of T. infestans. The response of P. megistus to its cuticular substances was significantly stronger than that to its faeces. The non-specificity of the two signals is discussed in the context of the ecological relationship between both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- H H R Pires
- Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, CEP 30190-002, MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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Sant'Anna MRV, Diotaiuti L, de Figueiredo Gontijo A, de Figueiredo Gontijo N, Pereira MH. Feeding behaviour of morphologically similar Rhodnius species: influence of mechanical characteristics and salivary function. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2001; 47:1459-1465. [PMID: 12770152 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-1910(01)00136-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite their morphological similarities, very similar Rhodnius species (R. prolixus, R. robustus, R. nasutus and R. neglectus) displayed a distinct feeding behaviour when fed on artificial feeder, pigeon or mouse. On pigeon hosts, these species showed distinct groups in terms of cumulative probing time - quicker species (R. prolixus and R. neglectus) followed by R. nasutus and finally a much slower species (R. robustus). On mouse hosts, R. nasutus showed quicker probing time compared to the other three species. Moreover, R. prolixus displayed quicker probing time compared to R. robustus and R. neglectus. Except for R. nasutus, the mean total ingestion rate tended to have different values between feeding sources (artificial feeder>pigeon>mouse). The volume ingested by each cibarial pump contraction and maximum frequency obtained using the artificial feeder are expected to be related to intrinsic mechanical characteristics of the insect feeding apparatus. However, probing time and the modulation of cibarial pump frequency on live hosts may be related to salivary function. R. prolixus showed high mechanical and salivary efficiency, achieving high values of total ingestion rate when fed on artificial feeder or either of the hosts. Comparative analysis suggests that species which possess higher total ingestion rates tend to achieve higher nutritional status, allowing them to reach higher densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauri;cio Roberto Viana Sant'Anna
- Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, 31270-901, MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Guarneri AA, Diotaiuti L, Gontijo NF, Gontijo AF, Pereira MH. Comparison of feeding behaviour of Triatoma infestans, Triatoma brasiliensis and Triatoma pseudomaculata in different hosts by electronic monitoring of the cibarial pump. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2000; 46:1121-1127. [PMID: 10817838 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-1910(99)00222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Feeding behaviour of Triatoma infestans, T. brasiliensis and T. pseudomaculata on pigeons and mice was compared by electronic monitoring of the cibarial pump. The methodology developed permits the study detailed of triatomine feeding behaviour using an artificial feeder as well as on live hosts. T. infestans was the species that fed most rapidly on the two hosts tested (28.03+/-1.6 mg/min for pigeon and 21.33+/-1.7 mg/min for mouse), followed by T. brasiliensis (17.09+/-1.4 mg/min and 13.1+/-1.5 mg/min for pigeon and mouse, respectively) and T. pseudomaculata, (5.23+/-0.6 mg/min and 4.09+/-0.4 mg/min for pigeon and mouse, respectively). The quantity of liquid ingested per stroke of the cibarial pump was 100.7+/-4.1 nl for T. infestans, 69.1+/-2.7 nl for T. brasiliensis and 26.8+/-1.5 nl for T. pseudomaculata. The rate of engorgement in pigeons tended to be greater than that obtained for mice in the three species studied. In the experiments carried out using mice, probing times tended to be longer and interruptions during the meal more prolonged. This reinforces the idea that feeding on mice is more difficult than on pigeons, requiring more contact time to obtain the similar quantity of blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- AA Guarneri
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Caixa Postal 1743, 30190-901, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Dan A, Pereira MH, Pesquero JL, Diotaiuti L, Beirão PS. Action of the saliva of Triatoma infestans (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) on sodium channels. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 1999; 36:875-879. [PMID: 10593094 DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/36.6.875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Saliva of Triatoma infestans (Klug) produced a progressive reduction in the amplitude of the compound action potential recorded from rat sciatic nerve. The saliva also inhibited the Na+ current on GH3 cells. The data demonstrate that the saliva of T. infestans has an inhibitory effect on Na+ channels. We conclude that this effect may decrease the generation and conduction of nerve action potential, thereby decreasing the sensitivity of the region in which the insect probes, in a manner similar to that of local anesthetics. This study demonstrates such activity in the saliva of hematophagous insects. The adaptive value of this activity is clear, because the quantity of blood obtained by triatomines is limited by the irritation caused during the feeding process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dan
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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