Maintenance of the Triatomine Bugs Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma dimidiata under Laboratory Conditions

2014 ◽  
pp. 96-117
Author(s):  
R Durvasula ◽  
J Taneja ◽  
K Cobb ◽  
E Dotson
Keyword(s):  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Triatomine Bugs

Rearing triatomine bugs in the absence of a live host and some effects of diet on reproduction in Rhodnius prolixus Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

1978 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Langley ◽  
R. W. Pimley
Keyword(s):  
Silicone Rubber ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Triatoma Infestans ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Egg Hatch ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Panstrongylus Megistus ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Two Generations

AbstractRhodnius prolixus Stȧl was successfully reared for three generations on a diet of defibrinated pig blood fed through Parafilm or silicone-rubber membranes. Reproduction in terms of the number and sizes of eggs produced was superior to, while survival from egg to adult was equal to that reported for, insects fed on live hosts. The technique appears equally applicable to the rearing of Panstrongylus megistus (Burm.), Triatoma infestans (Klug) and T. brasiliensis Neiva. The inadequacy of cow blood as a diet for R. prolixus was manifested in a decrease in adult size after two generations and in a reduction of egg weight from 30 to around 16 mg per female per week. This was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in egg hatch from 90 to about 50%.

scholarly journals Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Rhodnius prolixus endure increased predation facilitating parasite transmission to mammal hosts

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0009570
Author(s):  
Newmar Pinto Marliére ◽  
Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo ◽  
Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Oral Transmission ◽  
Vector Interaction ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Predation Rates

Triatomine bugs aggregate with conspecifics inside shelters during daylight hours. At dusk, they leave their refuges searching for hosts on which to blood feed. After finding a host, triatomines face the threat of being killed, because hosts often prey on them. As it is known that many parasites induce the predation of intermediate hosts to promote transmission, and that ingestion of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected bugs represents a very effective means for mammal infection, we hypothesized that trypanosomes induce infected bugs to take increased risk, and, as a consequence, be predated when approaching a host. Therefore, we evaluated whether the predation risk and predation rates endured by Rhodnius prolixus increase when infected with T. cruzi. Assays were performed in square glass arenas offering one central refuge to infected and uninfected 5th instar nymphs. A caged mouse was introduced in each arena after a three-day acclimation interval to activate sheltered insects and induce them to approach it. As hypothesized, a significantly higher proportion of infected insects was predated when compared with uninfected ones (36% and 19%, respectively). Indeed, T. cruzi-infected bugs took higher risk (Approximation Index = 0.642) when compared with healthy ones (Approximation Index = 0.302) and remained outside the shelters when the host was removed from the arena. Our results show that infection by T. cruzi induces bugs to assume higher risk and endure higher predation rates. We reveal a hitherto unknown trypanosome-vector interaction process that increases infected bug predation, promoting increased rates of robust oral transmission. The significant consequences of the mechanism revealed here make it a fundamental component for the resilient maintenance of sylvatic, peridomestic and domestic cycles.

scholarly journals Lethal effect of a bait for Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), the vector of Chagas' disease, containing hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), under laboratory conditions

1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marli Maria Lima ◽  
Luis Rey ◽  
Rubens Pinto de Mello
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Lethal Effect ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Active Principle ◽  
Laboratory Conditions

The lethal effect of a bait containing an aqueous hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) suspension at the concentration of 1g/l and maintained at room temperature was studied in the laboratory over a period of 12 weeks. The suspension was placed in a latex bag hanging inside a 1000-ml beaker tightly covered with nylon netting, and left there with no changes for 85 days. Sixteen groups of R. prolixas bugs, consisting on average of 30 specimens each, were successively exposed to the bait and observed at different intervals for one week each. The mortality rate was 100% for all groups, except for the 16th, whose mortality rate was 96.7%. As the groups succeeded one another, mortality started to occur more rapidly and was more marked at the 6- and 24-h intervals. Later tests respectively started at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. showed that diurnal and nocturnal periodicity in the offer of food had no effect on mortality. First- and 2nd- instar nymphs and adults male were more sensitive and 5th- instar nymphs were more resistant to the active principle of the bait.

Wing-beat pattern in Rhodnius prolixus Stål (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) during exhaustive flight

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Gringorten ◽  
W. G. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Wing Beat ◽  
Wing Beat Frequency ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Beat Pattern ◽  
Consistent Change ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Anatomical Adaptations

Stationary, tethered Rhodnius prolixus males were stimulated to beat their wings for periods averaging 2–3 h. Wing-beat frequency averaged 70 Hz and was quite variable. Wing-beat amplitude declined as the insects approached exhaustion, but no consistent change was observed in beat frequency. Male R. prolixus assumes a characteristic flight posture and exhibits the typical reflexes and anatomical adaptations observed in other flying insects. The long periods of wing beating under laboratory conditions suggest they may be capable of flights of considerable duration in the wild.

Learning and orientation to odor in the bug Rhodnius prolixus Stal 1859 under laboratory conditions

2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Aldana ◽  
C. I. Abramson ◽  
E. Lizano ◽  
R. Vegas ◽  
E. Sulbaran-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Laboratory Conditions

scholarly journals Distribution and natural infection status of synantrophic triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, reveals new epidemiological scenarios for chagas disease in the Highlands of Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0009574
Author(s):  
Omar Cantillo-Barraza ◽  
Manuel Medina ◽  
Sara Zuluaga ◽  
María Isabel Blanco ◽  
Rodrigo Caro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction Updating the distribution and natural infection status of triatomine bugs is critical for planning, prioritizing, and implementing strategies to control Chagas disease (CD), especially after vector reduction programs. After carrying out a control program, the Department of Boyaca contains the highest number of Colombian municipalities certified by PAHO to be free of intradomiciliary transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi by Rhodnius prolixus. The present work describes the spatial distribution, natural infection (NI), and molecular characterization of T. cruzi in synanthropic triatomines from the Department of Boyaca in 2017 and 2018. Materials and methods An entomological survey was conducted in 52 municipalities in Boyaca known to have had previous infestations of triatomine bugs. Insects were collected through active searches carried out by technical personnel from the Secretary of Health and community members using Triatomine Collection Stations (PITs-acronym in Spanish). For evaluation of natural infection, triatomines were identified morphologically and grouped in pools of one to five individuals of the same species collected in the same household. DNA derived from the feces of each pool of insects was analyzed by PCR for the presence of T. cruzi using primers flanking the satellite DNA of the parasite. SL-IR primers were used to differentiate TCI from the other DTUs and to identify different genotypes. The distribution of the collected triatomines was analyzed to determine any vector hotspots using spatial recreation. Results A total of 670 triatomine bugs was collected, belonging to five species: Triatoma dimidiata (73.2%), Triatoma venosa (16.7%), Panstrongylus geniculatus (5.7%), Rhodnius prolixus (4.4%), and Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (0.4%), from 29 of the 52 municipalities. In total, 71.6% of the bugs were collected within houses (intradomiciliary) and the rest around the houses (peridomiciliary). Triatoma dimidiata was the most widely distributed species and had the highest natural infection index (37.8%), followed by T. venosa and P. geniculatus. TcI was the only DTU found, with the TcI Dom genotype identified in 80% of positive samples and TcI sylvatic in the other insects. Spatial analysis showed clusters of T. dimidiata and T. venosa in the northeast and southwest regions of Boyaca. Conclusions After some municipalities were certified free of natural transmission within houses (intradomiciliary transmission) of T. cruzi by R. prolixus, T. dimidiata has become the most prevalent vector present, and represents a significant risk of resurgent CD transmission. However, T. venosa, P. geniculatus, and P. rufotuberculatus also contribute to the increased risk of transmission. The presence of residual R. prolixus may undo the successes achieved through vector elimination programs. The molecular and spatial analysis used here allows us to identify areas with an ongoing threat of parasite transmission and improve entomological surveillance strategies.

scholarly journals The smORF-containing gene mille-pattes is required for moulting and Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Azevedo ◽  
Bruno Rodrigues ◽  
Sandy Alves ◽  
Lupis Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos Logullo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Rhodnius Prolixus ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Polished Rice ◽  
Triatomine Bugs ◽  
Small Open Reading Frames

SummaryChagas disease is estimated to affect 8 million people worldwide and is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths in Latin America every year. Control of the triatomine bugs that transmit the flagellated parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has been the most successful strategy to avoid disease spread. Genes containing small open reading frames (smORFs, < 100 amino acids) constitute a putative reservoir of new vector control targets, since hundreds of these genes are present in insect genomes. Here, we show that the prototypic smORF-containing gene mille-pattes/polished-rice/tarsalless (mlpt/pri/tal) is essential for postembryonic development of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus and for T. cruzi metacyclogenesis during the nymphal stages. Injection of double-stranded RNA against mlpt (Rp-dsmlpt) during the nymphal stages leads to a plethora of phenotypes, which impair postembryonic development. First, fourth or fifth stage nymphs injected with Rp-dsmlpt do not moult even in the presence of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) mRNA. Second, Rp-dsmlpt nymphs have defects in gut morphology, delayed haemoglobin digestion, and decreased defecation volume compared with those of the control nymphs. Third, Rp-mlpt knockdown inhibits T. cruzi differentiation to the trypomastigote infective stage (metacyclogenesis) inside the R. prolixus gut. Overall, our study is the first to provide evidence that a smORF-containing gene regulates vector physiology and parasitic cycle thus enabling the development of novel molecular strategies to eliminate Chagas disease transmission.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document