Triatominae is a subfamily of the order Hemiptera whose species are able to feed in the vertebrate blood (i.e., hematophagy). This feeding behavior presents a great physiological challenge to insects, especially in Hemipteran species with a digestion performed by lysosomal-like cathepsins instead of the more common trypsin-like enzymes. With the aim of having a deeper understanding of protease ...

Because of its ability to prey on Triatominae in rural houses, Clerada apicicornis has been suggested as a potential biological control agent of Rhodnius prolixus. It has also been suggested as a potential vector of mammalian trypanosomes such as Trypanosoma cruzi, because of its ability to take blood directly from mammals. To help resolve these conflicting ideas, we assessed the haematophagic ...

Experimental infections of three hematophagous arthropods (Rhodnius prolixus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex pipiens) with a trypanosome of the Trypanosoma rotatorium complex found in the frogs Hyla crepitans and Leptodactylus insularum revealed that A. aegypti is a good host for the flagellate; the course of development in the intestinal tract of the mosquito is described from 15 minutes to 168 hour...

Acid phosphatase activity (Gömori technique) in salivary gland cells was investigated in adult insects (males and females) of four species of triatomines: Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, Rhodnius neglectus, and Rhodnius prolixus. Binucleated cells with bulky and polyploidy nuclei were detected, with acid phosphatase activity in the heterochromatin and nucleolus, which showed the mos...

For effective control programs, accurate assessment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in vectors is essential and has traditionally been performed by microscopic examination. For particular vectors and not others, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of fecal samples recently has been shown to be an effective means of detection. The sensitivities of the PCR and microscopy for detection of T. c...

Rhodnius marabaensissp. n. was collected on 12 May 2014 in the Murumurú Environmental Reserve in the city of Marabá, Pará State, Brazil. This study was based on previous consultation of morphological descriptions of 19 Rhodnius species and compared to the identification key for the genus Rhodnius. The examination included specimens from 18 Rhodnius species held in the Brazilian National and Int...

Analysis of zymograms with SDS-polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis containing gelatin as substrate, and performed on samples of haemolymph or fat body taken from Rhodnius prolixus inoculated or not with Enterobacter cloacae, demonstrated distinct patterns of protease activities: (i) in the haemolymph two proteases were induced in insects inoculated with bacteria; (ii) two proteases were detected...

Rhodnius prolixus , a major vector of Chagas disease, may be considered the model upon which foundations insect physiology and biochemistry were built. It is an obligate blood feeder in meal triggers growth, development reproduction. The also post-prandial diuresis to maintain osmotic homeostasis. In R. as with other insects, Malpighian tubules play critical role this diuresis, much has been le...

Second-instar larvae of Rhodnius prolixus will gorge on washed human erythrocytes suspended in Ringer, but not on plasma, either with or without platelets. The ED 50 of erythrocytes is 4-5 vol of packed cells per 1000 vol of Ringer. Erythrocyte 'ghosts' are non-stimulatory, whereas the haemolysate induces gorging. Phagostimulation by 'ghosts' is restored by resealing them in 1 HIM adenosine tri...

Joao J. F. SARKIS,* Jorge A. GUIMARAESt and Jose M. C. RIBEIRO$ *Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Instituto de Biosciencias, 90.000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, tDepartment of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Bloco H, 21.910 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and $Department of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Pu...