An updated and illustrated dichotomous key for the Chagas disease vectors of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex and their epidemiologic importance

By

Dale, Carolina
Eduardo de Almeida, Carlos
Mendonça, Vagner José
de Oliveira, Jader
Rosa, João Aristeu da
Galvão, Cleber
Costa, Jane

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

805

Pages

33-43

Subjects

kissing bugs , morphological key , species group

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.805.25559

 

Abstract

In the subfamily Triatominae, Triatoma exhibits the largest number of species, which are arranged in complexes. For the T.brasiliensis species complex, recent investigations based on results of geometric morphometrics combined with phylogeny have provided evidence that it should be composed of seven species: T.brasiliensis, T.bahiensis, T.juazeirensis, T.lenti, T.melanica, T.petrocchiae, and T.sherlocki, in which T.brasiliensis is divided in two subspecies: T.b.brasiliensis and T.b.macromelasoma. A taxonomic key is presented to identify each taxon. Among members of this complex, T.b.brasiliensis is the most important in an epidemiologic context, due to its high prevalence in natural infection by Trypanosomacruzi combined with a pronounced adaptation to domiciliary habitats. However, some members may be currently invading and colonizing homes, a process known as domiciliation. Therefore, the key presented here may be potentially useful for researchers as well as those involved in vector control measures.