Triatomine physiology in the context of trypanosome infection

GUARNERI, ALESSANDRA APARECIDA; LORENZO, MARCELO GUSTAVO

JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2017 vol. 97 p. 66 - 76

0022-1910

Triatomines are hematophagous insects that feed on the blood of vertebrates from different taxa, but canoccasionally also take fluids from invertebrate hosts, including other insects. During the blood ingestionprocess, these insects can acquire diverse parasites that can later be transmitted to susceptiblevertebrates if they complete their development inside bugs. Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent ofChagas disease, and Trypanosoma rangeli are protozoan parasites transmitted by triatomines, the latteronly transmitted by Rhodnius spp. The present work makes an extensive revision of studies evaluatingtriatomine-trypanosome interaction, with special focus on Rhodnius prolixus interacting with the twoparasites. The sequences of events encompassing the development of these trypanosomes inside bugsand the consequent responses of insects to this infection, as well as many pathological effects producedby the parasites are discussed.