Spermatological Morphology of Triatoma Species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae).

Spermatozoa are among the most diverse cell types, and their morphologies often provide data that can be used to reliably evaluate phylogenetic relationships. They can also help to clarify the nature of 'specific complexes', which are common among triatomines. In the present study, we evaluated the copulation behavior of Triatoma rubrovaria Blanchard 1843 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) and the structural morphology of sperm from T. carcavalloi Jurberg Rocha & Lent, 1998, T. infestans Klug, 1834, T. pintodiasi Jurberg Cunha & Rocha, 2013, and T. rubrovaria. Copulatory behavior was described from the moment males and females genitalia joined until they separated. Insemination was confirmed by the presence of a spermatophore in the female's bursa copulatrix. To measure their sperm, males were dissected and their seminal vesicles were removed, squashed on glass slides, and then spread, fixed, and observed under a photomicroscope. The images obtained were analyzed to measure the sperm. Seminal vesicles were also prepared for transmission electron microscopy. We performed K-means clustering separately for each species to group their sperm based on morphology. The differences in spermatozoa length among species of Triatominae, sperm types, and the interaction between species and sperm type were assessed with a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The copulation time in T. rubrovaria was 3 to 5 min, which was sufficiently long for spermatophore transfer. All taxa showed polymorphic (short and long) sperm, with significant differences in the lengths of sperm among taxa. Using electron microscopy, the sperm cells of the four taxa examined were found to have similar ultrastructural morphology, confirming the hypothesized synapomorphies of sperm within the suborder Heteroptera (Hemiptera).

Aspectos da vigilância entomológica da doença de chagas no sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Aspects of Entomological Surveillance of Chagas disease in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever as espécies de triatomíneos presentes na região de abrangência da 3ª Coordenadoria Regional de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul (3ª CRS) e avaliar aspectos da vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas desencadeada a partir da notificação de insetos pela população. Para tanto, fez-se o acompanhamento das atividades desenvolvidas pelos agentes no período proposto, sendo também realizadas entrevistas com estes agentes para a identificação das principais dificuldades encontradas durante o andamento das ações do programa. No biênio 2010-2011, foram capturados 295 triatomíneos em nove municípios, todos eles provenientes de capturas realizadas pela população (notificação) e entregues em Postos de Informação de Triatomíneos. Dentre os municípios que obtiveram maior número de capturas, destacaram-se Canguçu (37,8 porcento) e Piratini (28,8 porcento). As espécies com mais exemplares capturados foram Triatoma rubrovaria (93,9 porcento) e Panstrongylus tupynambai (5,1 porcento). As capturas dos insetos ocorreram, predominantemente, no intradomicílio e nos meses de temperatura mais elevada. Quanto aos agentes, 95,2 porcento relataram alguma dificuldade no exercício do ofício, destacando-se as inadequações do transporte e a escassez de material educativo para distribuição pública como principais elementos dificultadores. Concluiu-se que alguns municípios apresentam risco permanente de invasão domiciliar por triatomíneos, especialmente T. rubrovaria. Em razão disso, ficou evidenciada a importância da manutenção das atividades de vigilância e de maior assistência ao trabalho dos agentes que atuam no programa...

The objective of this study was to describe the triatomine species present in the region covered by the 3rd Regional Health Coordination of Rio Grande do Sul (3rd CRS) and evaluate aspects of entomological surveillance of Chagas disease from the notification of insects by the population. For this, the agents’ activities over this period were monitored and they were interviewed to ascertain the main difficulties encountered in the activities of the program. Over this period, 295 triatomines were caught in nine municipalities. All of them were caught by members of the public (notifications) and were handed in at triatomine information centers. Among the municipalities in which larger numbers of specimens were caught, Canguçu (37.8 percent) and Piratini (28.8 percent) were prominent. The species for which the largest numbers of specimens were caught were Triatoma rubrovaria (93.9 percent) and Panstrongylus tupynambai (5.1 percent). The insects were predominantly caught inside homes and during the hotter months. Regarding the agents, 95.2 percent reported that they had some difficulties in carrying out their duties. Inadequacies of transportation and scarcity of educational material for public distribution were cited as the main factors that caused difficulties. It was concluded that some municipalities present an ongoing risk of triatomine invasion in homes, especially regarding T. rubrovaria; maintenance of surveillance activities is of fundamental importance, and greater assistance for the work of agents acting within the program is needed...