Cytotaxonomy, study of the biological cycle and characterization of the fertility curve of Rhodnius marabaensis (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Abstract

Chagas disease is a neglected disease that affects about eight million people. The main form of transmission is vector, through triatomines. The control of these hematophagous insects is fundamental to minimize the new incidence of chagasic, being the researches focused on taxonomy, biology and triatomine habits of great epidemiological importance. Rhodnius marabaensis Souza et al., 2016 (Hemiptera, Triatominae), is an endemic species from the northern region of Brazil (found in the State of Pará) that has recently been described and, consequently, requires new studies that make it possible to know the biology of this vector and that help in the correct classification by the programs of control of vectors, because the only work present in the literature is the description of the new species of Rhodnius. In view of this, the present project aims to characterize the cytotaxonomically R. marabaensis, as well as to study the biological cycle of this triatomine, including daily observation to verify the fertility curve. The specimens used will come from the colony of R. marabaensis (CTA 284) kept in the Triatominae Insetary of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Araraquara (FCFAR / UNESP), since May 2014. For the cytogenetic characterization, five adult male specimens will be used and the results will be described with a cytotaxonomic focus (comparing with all Rhodnius species). For the study of the biological cycle and the characterization of the fertility curve, 15 female and 15 male specimens will be used and kept in separate containers per couple. The analysis will be daily, and the egg count will be performed concomitantly with the analysis of the birth rate and mortality of the insects. The results will be organized into Excel 2013 worksheets, and statistical analyzes performed through the program GraphPad Instat Demo, version 3.06 for Windows. These results will contribute to the epidemiology of Chagas disease, since although there are no reports of R. marabaensis infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, all triatomines are considered as potential vectors of Chagas disease.