Chagas Disease Vectors of Paraguay: Entomoepidemiological Aspects of Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859) and Development of an Identification Key for Paraguayan Triatomines Based on Cytogenetics Data

Cytogenetic Key to Identification of Triatominae Species Reported in an Outbreak Region of Oral Transmission of Chagas Disease in the Brazilian Northeast

Oral transmission from the consumption of processed food with triatomines and/or their feces infected with Trypanosoma cruzi prevails among recent cases of Chagas disease in Brazil. In Paraíba, a state of the Brazilian northeast, there was an outbreak caused by the consumption of sugarcane juice that resulted in 26 cases of infection and one death. Until now, 10 species of triatomines have been reported in this Brazilian state. Thus, we developed a dichotomous key to assist in the correct identification of Paraíba triatomines based on cytogenetic data. The dichotomous key allowed the differentiation of all the species in this state. Although the purpose of CytoKeys is not to replace dichotomous keys based on morphological data, the use of these complementary keys can help to solve taxonomic problems, preventing identification errors, especially between similar species such as Triatoma brasiliensis and Triatoma petrocchiae, both present in the Brazilian northeast.

Exploring the Hidden World of Vectors of Chagas Disease: A Fascinating Look at the Taxonomic Aspects of the Psammolestes Genus (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected illness affecting approximately seven million individuals, with vector transmission occurring via triatomine bugs. The Rhodniini tribe comprises 24 species, grouped into the Rhodnius and Psammolestes genera. Given the importance of accurately identifying CD vectors, the taxonomy of Psammolestes spp. was revisited using morphological and morphometric data. Specimens of P. tertius, P. coreodes, and P. arthuri were collected, and the morphological characteristics of the head, thorax, abdomen, and eggs were analyzed. Morphometric studies of eggs were also conducted. Dichotomous keys allowing for the differentiation of Psammolestes spp. were elaborated based on adult insect and egg morphological characteristics. Through these studies, it was possible to differentiate the three Psammolestes species and confirm that this genus should not be classified under the Rhodnius genus, contributing to Rhodniini taxonomy.

Dichotomous Keys Based on Cytogenetic Data for Triatomines Reported in Brazilian Regions with Outbreaks of Orally Transmitted Chagas Disease (Pernambuco and Rio Grande Do Norte)

Chagas disease (CD) affects about eight million people worldwide. Brazil has the highest number of estimated cases and the largest number of deaths due to CD. Considering the recent outbreaks of oral CD involving at least 27 cases of acute CD in Pernambuco (PE) as well as 18 cases and 2 deaths in the Rio Grande do Norte (RN), we developed dichotomous keys for the identification of triatomine species in these Brazilian states based on cytogenetic data. All triatomine species could be distinguished by cytogenetic characteristics, emphasizing the importance of the newly developed taxonomic keys for the correct identification of triatomes from PE and RN, particularly for species that exhibit morphological similarities, such as Triatoma brasilensis and T. petrocchiae (present in both states) and T. maculata and T. pseudomaculata (as T. pseudomaculata has been misidentified as T. maculata in PE and RN). These alternative keys are expected to provide a useful tool for the scientific community and, above all, health agents, aimed at preventing mistakes from occurring in the identification of the vectors present in PE and RN related to CD outbreaks caused by oral infection.

Trends in Taxonomy of Chagas Disease Vectors (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): From Linnaean to Integrative Taxonomy

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by members of the subfamily Triatominae. There are currently 157 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. Most descriptions of triatomine species are based on classical taxonomy. Facing evolutionary (cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity) and taxonomic (more than 190 synonymizations) problems, it is evident that integrative taxonomy studies are an important and necessary trend for this group of vectors. Almost two-and-a-half centuries after the description of the first species, we present for the first time the state-of-the-art taxonomy of the whole subfamily, covering from the initial classic studies to the use of integrative taxonomy.