Influence of the blood meal source on the biology of Meccus longipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions

Influence of the blood meal source on life cycle, mortality, and fecundity of 2 cohorts of recently colonized Mexican Meccus longipennis, fed on hens (H-cohort) or rats (R-cohort) were evaluated in laboratory conditions. One hundred twelve nymphs (56%) (H-cohort) and 102 nymphs (51%) (R-cohort), completed the cycle. The average time from Nymph I to adult was 209 ± 41 days (H-cohort) and 239 ± 28 days (R-cohort), taking an average of 1.8 (H-cohort) and 1.9 (R-cohort) blood meals per nymphal stage (range 1-6). The average span in days for each stage from the H-cohort was 20.8 for Nymph I, 24.5 for Nymph II, 38.8 for Nymph III, 56.1 for Nymph IV, and 72.5 for Nymph V, and it was 20.2 for Nymph I, 23.1 for Nymph II, 43.2 for Nymph III, 68.8 for Nymph IV, and 75.4 for Nymph V from the R-cohort. The mortality percentage was 44% (H-cohort) and 49% (R-cohort). The average number of eggs laid per female in a 9-month period was 484.1 (range 351.1-847.8) in the H-cohort, whereas the average number of eggs was 442.3 (range 288.5-720.5) in the R-cohort. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were recorded among cohorts fed on the studied blood meal sources, different from most previously studied Triatominae species, perhaps due to a high degree of association of M. longipennis with chickens and hens as much as with mammals under natural conditions on human dwellings. Copyright © 2004 by the American Mosquito Control Association, Inc

Combining two teaching techniques for young children on Aedes aegypti control: Effects on entomological indices in western Mexico

A study of the effect of educating four- to six-year-old children in mosquito control was recently conducted in a city in the state of Jalisco, western Mexico. Four neighborhood districts were selected. Children attending one kindergarten in each of two experimental districts were taught mosquito control with a video from the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), joined to the use of the AMCA Touch Table Technique. The entomological indices monitored in the study decreased significantly (P<0.05) in houses in the experimental districts, apparently because parents acted on the comments and suggestions of the children and eliminated or monitored containers used as oviposition sites by mosquitoes. Based on these results, combining both techniques for teaching children mosquito control is a potentially useful tool for control efforts in Mexico and other places in Latin America. � 2012 The Society for Vector Ecology

[Monitoring triatomid bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) presence by sentinel chicken coops in Southern Jalisco State, Mexico]

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Mexico. At least 30 Triatominae species, vectors of that disease have been recorded, most with domiciliary habits and tendency to invade human dwellings. OBJECTIVE: The usefulness of using chicken coops was evaluated for monitoring peridomestic triatomine presence, identity and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Materials and methods. A year-long, longitudinal field study was designed. Fifty chicken coops were placed in 50 human dwellings on three localities in Teocuitatlan de Corona County, Jalisco State, Mexico. The coops and human dwellings were routinely inspected to determine if the coops alone can monitor for the presence of triatomines. RESULTS: Significantly (p<0.05) more Meccus longipennis specimens (93.0%) than of Triatoma barberi (7.0%) were collected. Almost a third (31.3%) of M. longipennis and none of T. barberi specimens were collected in the coops. Meccus longipennis was found with infections of Trypanosoma cruzi of 25.7%, and T. barberi of 53.2%. Most triatomines were collected in spring and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: Chicken coops proved useful tools to detect presence of M. longipennis; however, they were not effective for T. barberi. The importance of M. longipennis as a potential vector was confirmed, and the possible primary vector role of T. barberi was established as well

Presence of Meccus longipennis and Triatoma recurva in the state of Durango, Mexico [Presencia de Meccus longipennis y Triatoma recurva en el estado de Durango, México]

The collection of Meccus longipennis (Usinger) and of Triatoma recurva (Stål) in the state of Durango is reported for the first time. Both species were collected during twelve months (from September 2010 to August 2011) in four localities of two municipalities (Pueblo Nuevo y Mezquital) in the state of Durango. Seventy one specimens of M. longipennis and six of T. recurva were collected mostly from indoors of human dwellings (bedrooms). Presence of M. longipennis means a potential risk of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas to human populations in the study area

Geographic variation on biological parameters of Meccus picturatus (Usinger), 1939 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

The biological parameters related to the life cycles of three populations of Meccus picturatus (Usinger) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), were evaluated. A cohort of each of three populations from geographically isolated localities in western Mexico was maintained under similar laboratory conditions, after which all three populations were compared to each other. In each cohort, 50.9 to 72.1% of nymphs completed the cycle. The average time from N1 to adult was approximately 175 days and different for the three studied cohorts. The number of blood meals between molts varied from one to three. The hatching rates as well as the fecundity per female per day were different among the three studied populations. Our results show that the three isolated populations are statistically different in some parameters from each other, which points to the importance of studying the biological characteristics of local populations of triatomines for estimating their capacity of transmitting T. cruzi to reservoir hosts. Copyright ┬® 2015 The Society for Vector Ecology

Genetic variability among populations of Triatoma longipennis, vector of Chagas disease in western Mexico

Enzyme polymorphism in Triatoma longipennis Usinger, one of the most important vectors of Chagas disease in Mexico, was analized using starch gel electrophoresis. Seven geographic locations were sampled in order to determine gene flow among populations and to characterize intraspecific differences. Of 18 enzymes assayed, three (ES, MDH, and ME) were successfully resolved and then used to score genetic variation. ES was used to differentiate between populations. Both polymorphism and heterozygosity indicated genetic variability in the populations studied. Gene flow between some populations was found to be high. This finding and the low genetic distance between populations indicate similarity among most of the nearby localities, suggesting an important epidemiological threat

[Monitoring triatomid bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) presence by sentinel chicken coops in Southern Jalisco State, Mexico]

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Mexico. At least 30 Triatominae species, vectors of that disease have been recorded, most with domiciliary habits and tendency to invade human dwellings. OBJECTIVE: The usefulness of using chicken coops was evaluated for monitoring peridomestic triatomine presence, identity and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Materials and methods. A year-long, longitudinal field study was designed. Fifty chicken coops were placed in 50 human dwellings on three localities in Teocuitatlan de Corona County, Jalisco State, Mexico. The coops and human dwellings were routinely inspected to determine if the coops alone can monitor for the presence of triatomines. RESULTS: Significantly (p<0.05) more Meccus longipennis specimens (93.0%) than of Triatoma barberi (7.0%) were collected. Almost a third (31.3%) of M. longipennis and none of T. barberi specimens were collected in the coops. Meccus longipennis was found with infections of Trypanosoma cruzi of 25.7%, and T. barberi of 53.2%. Most triatomines were collected in spring and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: Chicken coops proved useful tools to detect presence of M. longipennis; however, they were not effective for T. barberi. The importance of M. longipennis as a potential vector was confirmed, and the possible primary vector role of T. barberi was established as well

Genetic variability among populations of Triatoma longipennis, vector of Chagas disease in western Mexico

Enzyme polymorphism in Triatoma longipennis Usinger, one of the most important vectors of Chagas disease in Mexico, was analized using starch gel electrophoresis. Seven geographic locations were sampled in order to determine gene flow among populations and to characterize intraspecific differences. Of 18 enzymes assayed, three (ES, MDH, and ME) were successfully resolved and then used to score genetic variation. ES was used to differentiate between populations. Both polymorphism and heterozygosity indicated genetic variability in the populations studied. Gene flow between some populations was found to be high. This finding and the low genetic distance between populations indicate similarity among most of the nearby localities, suggesting an important epidemiological threat

Monitoring triatomid bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) presence by sentinel chicken coops in Southern Jalisco State, México [Vigilancia de la presencia de triatominos mediante gallineros en el sur de Jalisco, México]

Introduction. Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Mexico. At least 30 Triatominae species, vectors of that disease have been recorded, most with domiciliary habits and tendency to invade human dwellings. Objective. The usefulness of using chicken coops was evaluated for monitoring peridomestic triatomine presence, identity and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Materials and methods. A year-long, longitudinal field study was designed. Fifty chicken coops were placed in 50 human dwellings on three localities in Teocuitatlán de Corona County, Jalisco State, Mexico. The coops and human dwellings were routinely inspected to determine if the coops alone can monitor for the presence of triatomines. Results. Significantly (p<0.05) more Meccus longipennis specimens (93.0%) than of Triatoma barberi (7.0%) were collected. Almost a third (31.3%) of M. longipennis and none of T. barberi specimens were collected in the coops. Meccus longipennis was found with infections of Trypanosoma cruzi of 25.7%, and T. barberi of 53.2%. Most triatomines were collected in spring and summer months. Conclusions. Chicken coops proved useful tools to detect presence of M. longipennis; however, they were not effective for T. barberi. The importance of M. longipennis as a potential vector was confirmed, and the possible primary vector role of T. barberi was established as well

Monitoring triatomid bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) presence by sentinel chicken coops in Southern Jalisco State, México [Vigilancia de la presencia de triatominos mediante gallineros en el sur de Jalisco, México]

Introduction. Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Mexico. At least 30 Triatominae species, vectors of that disease have been recorded, most with domiciliary habits and tendency to invade human dwellings. Objective. The usefulness of using chicken coops was evaluated for monitoring peridomestic triatomine presence, identity and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Materials and methods. A year-long, longitudinal field study was designed. Fifty chicken coops were placed in 50 human dwellings on three localities in Teocuitatlán de Corona County, Jalisco State, Mexico. The coops and human dwellings were routinely inspected to determine if the coops alone can monitor for the presence of triatomines. Results. Significantly (p<0.05) more Meccus longipennis specimens (93.0%) than of Triatoma barberi (7.0%) were collected. Almost a third (31.3%) of M. longipennis and none of T. barberi specimens were collected in the coops. Meccus longipennis was found with infections of Trypanosoma cruzi of 25.7%, and T. barberi of 53.2%. Most triatomines were collected in spring and summer months. Conclusions. Chicken coops proved useful tools to detect presence of M. longipennis; however, they were not effective for T. barberi. The importance of M. longipennis as a potential vector was confirmed, and the possible primary vector role of T. barberi was established as well