Host range of Triatoma virus does not extend to Aedes aegypti and Apis mellifera

MARTI, GERARDO ANÍBAL; BONICA, MELISA BERENICE; SUSEVICH, MARÍA LAURA; REYNALDI, FRANCISCO; MICIELI, MARÍA VICTORIA; ECHEVERRÍA, MARÍA GABRIELA

JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Año: 2020 vol. 173

0022-2011

Vector control is the most effective method to prevent transmission of Chagas disease. Control is mostly made through chemical insecticides although they have negative impact on wild pollinators, such as bees. Reducing pesticide use through biological alternatives could minimize the damage to these beneficial insects. Triatoma virus (TrV) is a pathogen able to kill triatomines and thus a valid candidate to be used as biological control agent. In this study we evaluate the capacity of TrV to infect an important beneficial insect (Apis mellifera) as well as a plague insect (Aedes aegypti). Results indicate that TrV does not infect the bees or mosquitoes tested in this study. The possible specificity of TrV for kissing bugs reinforces the possible use of TrV as a biological control agent for triatomines