Description of Triatoma huehuetenanguensis sp. n., a potential Chagas disease vector (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

A new species of the genus Triatoma Laporte, 1832 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) is described based on specimens collected in the department of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Triatoma huehuetenanguensis sp. n. is closely related to T. dimidiata (Latreille, 1811), with the following main morphological differences: lighter color; smaller overall size, including head length; and width and length of the pronotum. Natural Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) infection, coupled with its presence in domestic habitats, makes this species a potentially important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in Guatemala

Protein mass spectrometry detects multiple bloodmeals for enhanced Chagas disease vector ecology

Ecohealth-based approaches have been recognized as a sustainable method of Chagas disease control. Bloodmeal data and vector prevalence of various hosts fosters an understanding of local vector ecology and behavior. This detailed paper provides validation of the ability to detect multiple bloodmeals using synthetic hemoglobin reference peptides (SRPs) that differ among the previously reported most common bloodmeals. The study shows the superior ability of hemoglobin peptide-based LC-MS/MS to detect and identify Chagas disease vector bloodmeal sources (of field-collected Triatomine vectors from Guatemala), compared to classical DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR)