American triatomine species occurrences: updates and novelties in the DataTri database

The causative agent of Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) is transmitted to mammals, including humans, mainly by insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Also known as “kissing bugs”, the subfamily currently includes 157 validated species (154 extant and three extinct), in 18 genera and five tribes. Here, we present a subdataset (7852 records) of American triatomine occurrences; an update to the most complete and integrated database available to date at a continental scale. New georeferenced records were obtained from a systematic review of published literature and colleague-provided data. New data correspond to 101 species and 14 genera from 22 American countries between 1935 and 2022. The most important novelties refer to (i) the inclusion of new species, (ii) synonymies and formal transferals of species, and (iii) temporal and geographical species records updates. These data will be a useful contribution to entomological surveillance implicated in Chagas disease.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Publishing data to support the fight against human vector-borne diseases

Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 17% of human cases of infectious diseases. In most situations, effective control of debilitating and deadly vector-bone diseases (VBDs), such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika and Chagas requires up-to-date, robust and comprehensive information on the presence, diversity, ecology, bionomics and geographic spread of the organisms that carry and transmit the infectious agents. Huge gaps exist in the information related to these vectors, creating an essential need for campaigns to mobilise and share data. The publication of data papers is an effective tool for overcoming this challenge. These peer-reviewed articles provide scholarly credit for researchers whose vital work of assembling and publishing well-described, properly-formatted datasets often fails to receive appropriate recognition. To address this, GigaScience 's sister journal GigaByte partnered with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to publish a series of data papers, with support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here we outline the initial results of this targeted approach to sharing data and describe its importance for controlling VBDs and improving public health

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk

Los triatominos de Costa Rica (Heteroptera: Reduviidae, Triatominae).

El objeto del presente trabajo es dar a conocer las especies de la subfamilia Triatominae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) en Costa Rica y presentar una clave para poder identificarlas. Los triatominos constituyen un grupo de insectos de interés médico y veterinario, por la capacidad que tienen de transmitir el parásito de la enfermedad de Chagas. Se hace una breve exposición sobre la familia Reduviidae y se suministran caracteres morfológicos detallados de diferentes partes del cuerpo de los triatominos para su mejor conocimiento e interpretación de la clave. Se incluye una clave para las especies que se han encontrado en el país centroamericano. Se reportan citas de dos nuevas especies para Costa Rica: Microtriatoma trinidadensis (Lent, 1951) y Cavernicola pilosa Barber, 1937, ambas señaladas previamente para Panamá. Finalmente se anexa un conjunto de láminas con la distribución geográfica y fotos de cada especieThe aim this paper is to make known the species of the subfamily Triatominae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in Costa Rica, and to present a key to their identification. The triatomines are a group of medical and veterinary interest, due to their capacity to transmit the parasite of Chagas disease. A brief exposition on the family Reduviidae is made and detailed morphological characters of different body parts of triatomines for a better knowledge and interpretation of the key are supplied. A key for the species found in the Central American country is included. Records of two new species for Costa Rica are reported: Microtriatoma trinidadensis (Lent, 1951) and Cavernicola pilosa Barber, 1937, both previously reported from Panama. Finally, a set of plates with the geographical distribution and photos of each species is provided

Nuevo registro para Chile de Hybomatocoris penai Wygodzinsky, 1966 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

A new record for Chile of the reduviid Hybomatocoris penai Wygodzinsky, 1966 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is given. This species was previously known just from the Metropolitan, Valparaiso, and Maule Regions of Chile. The new record comes from the O’Higgins Region, filling the distributional gap in the country.Se entrega un nuevo registro para Chile del redúvido Hybomatocoris penai Wygodzinsky, 1966 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Esta especie antes era únicamente conocida de las Regiones Metropolitana, de Valparaíso y del Maule en el país. El nuevo registro proviene de la Región de O’Higgins y llena el vacío distribucional existente

Descripción de dos anomalías en triatominos (Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

Two teratological cases are described in legs of triatomine bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The first one belongs to an oligomery with unilateral atrophy in the left mesothoracic leg of Triatoma rubida (Uhler, 1894) from a laboratory colony in Atlanta (USA). The second one belongs to a unilateral atrophy on the right metathoracic leg of a specimen of Panstrongylus humeralis (Usinger, 1939) from Barro Colorado, Panamá. Both cases are discussed and figures of malformations are provided.Se describen dos casos teratológicos en patas de triatominos (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). El primero corresponde a una oligomeria y atrofia unilateral en pata mesotorácica izquierda de Triatoma rubida (Uhler, 1894) de una colonia de crianza en Atlanta (USA). El segundo corresponde a una atrofia unilateral derecha en la pata mesotorácica de un ejemplar de Panstrongylus humeralis (Usinger, 1939) de Barro Colorado, Panamá. Se discuten ambos casos y se incluyen figuras de las malformaciones

Ctenodontina enderlein, 1914 (Diptera, Asilidae, Asilinae): New combinations, synonyms, new species and new records for Argentina

Ctenodontina Enderlein is reported for the first time in Argentina. A new species, C. sagta sp. nov. (Argentina, Salta) is described. New combination is Ctenodontina baleta (Walker), comb. nov. with two synonimies: Pachychoeta caracasae Martin syn. nov. and Pachychoeta inca Martin syn. nov. The male and female terminalia of C. baleta (Walker). comb. nov. is illustrated and described for the first time and a key to species is presented. Copyright © 2017 Magnolia Press

Formal Assignation of the Kissing Bug Triatoma lecticularia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) to the Genus Paratriatoma

The subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) comprises hematophagous insects that are vectors of Chagas disease; including species assigned to the genera Triatoma and Paratriatoma. Initial examination of Triatoma lecticularia revealed the hirsuteness covering the entire body—a characteristic and striking feature of members of the genus Paratriatoma—and a systematic study revealed several other morphological characters that are in diagnostic alignment with Paratriatoma. Based on the examination of several specimens (including the lectotype), and with the additional support of molecular and cytogenetic data, we propose the formal transferal of Triatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) into the genus Paratriatoma with the resulting new combination: Paratriatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) comb. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Presenças geográficas de triatominos americanos: atualizações e novidades da base de dados DataTri

The causative agent of Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) is transmitted to mammals - including humans - mainly by insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Currently, the subfamily includes 157 valid species (154 extant and three extinct), grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. We present the description of a subdataset (7852 records) of American triatomine occurrences, as an update to the most complete and integrated database available up to date at a continental scale. The new georeferenced records were obtained from a systematic review of published literature and data provided by colleagues. New data correspond to 101 species and 14 genera from 22 American countries in the time interval between 1935 and 2022. The most important novelties refer to: i) the inclusion of new species, ii) synonymies and formal transferals of species, and iii) temporal and geographical species records updates. We encourage the use of this information especially as a contribution to the entomological surveillance implicated in Chagas disease.El agente causal de la Enfermedad de Chagas (Trypanosoma cruzi) es transmitido a los mamíferos - incluyendo al ser humano - principalmente por insectos vectores de la subfamilia Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Actualmente, la subfamilia incluye 157 especies (154 actuales y tres extintas), agrupadas en 18 géneros y cinco tribus. Presentamos la descripción de un subconjunto de datos (7852 registros) de presencias de triatominos americanos, como una actualización de la más completa e integrada base de datos disponible hasta el momento a escala continental. Los nuevos registros georreferenciados fueron obtenidos de una revisión sistemática de referencias publicadas y datos cedidos por colegas. Los nuevos datos corresponden a 101 especies y 14 géneros de 22 países americanos en el intervalo de tiempo entre 1935 y 2022. Las novedades más importantes refieren a: i) la incorporación de nuevas especies, ii) sinonimias y transferencias formales de especies, y iii) actualizaciones temporales y geográficas de registros de especies. Alentamos a la utilización de esta información, especialmente para contribuir a la vigilancia entomológica implicada en la Enfermedad de Chagas