Folia Parasitologica 72:011 (2025) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2025.011

Variability in Trypanosoma cruzi susceptibility among species of kissing bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in Mexico

Alberto Antonio-Campos1, 2, Ernesto Ramírez-Moreno2, Víctor Sánchez-Cordero3, Nancy Rivas1, Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar1
1 Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico;
2 Laboratory of Protozoology, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico;
3 Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico

Chagas disease, caused by the kinetoplastid Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909), and transmitted by triatomine bugs, poses a significant public health challenge. Variability in the susceptibility of different triatomine species to T. cruzi infection can profoundly influence disease transmission dynamics and control measures. In this study, we assessed the susceptibility to T. cruzi infection in the first and third nymphal stages across eight triatomine species to T. cruzi infection using experimental inoculation with the NINOA strain and optical microscopy. The evaluated species were Dipetalogaster maximus (Uhler), Triatoma bassolsae (Alejandre-Aguilar, Nogueda-Torres, Cortéz-Jiménez, Jurberg, Galvão, Carcaballo), T. infestans (Klug), T. lecticularia (Stål), T. mexicana (Herrich-Schaeffer), T. pallidipennis (Stål), T. phyllosoma (Burmeister) and T. picturata (Usinger). The results indicated that T. bassolsae exhibited the highest susceptibility to infection, followed by T. pallidipennis and D. maximus. Our analysis also revealed that T. cruzi (NINOA) infection was significantly associated with triatomine species rather than nymphal stage (p < 0.0001), with substantial variability observed in susceptibility among species (p < 0.001). We ranked triatomine species susceptibility to T. cruzi infection as follows: T. bassolsae > D. maximus = T. pallidipennis = T. picturata = T. mexicana > T. phyllosoma = T. lecticularia = T. infestans. These findings enhance our understanding of T. cruzi transmission dynamics and offer valuable insights for the development of effective control strategies against this neglected tropical disease.

Keywords: Chagas disease, triatomine infections, vector competence, nymphal stages, Chagas disease

Received: June 15, 2024; Revised: October 21, 2024; Accepted: January 11, 2025; Published online: April 1, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Antonio-Campos, A., Ramírez-Moreno, E., Sánchez-Cordero, V., Rivas, N., & Alejandre-Aguilar, R. (2025). Variability in Trypanosoma cruzi susceptibility among species of kissing bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in Mexico. Folia Parasitologica, 72, Article 2025.011. https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2025.011
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. de Abreu A.P., Lucas Da Silva H.F., Sarto M.P.M., Iunklaus G.F., Trovo J.V., de Souza Fernandes N., Teston A.P.M., Toledo M.J.O. 2022b: Infection susceptibility and vector competence of Rhodnius robustus Larrousse, 1927 and R. pictipes Stal, 1872 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) for strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) I, II and IV. Parasit. Vectors 15: 239. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. de Abreu A.P., Teston A.P.M., Massago M., Lucas da Silva H.F., Ferreira É.C., Fernandes N.S., Araújo S.M., Dale C., Galvão C., Toledo M.J.O. 2022a: Experimental infection of Rhodnius robustus Larrousse, 1927 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) IV. Exp Parasitol. 232: 108197. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Alejandre-Aguilar R., Antonio-Campos A., Noguez-García J., Rivas N. 2023: Triatoma pallidipennis (Stål, 1872) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and its potential for infestation in Tecozautla, Hidalgo state, Mexico. J. Vector Ecol. 48: 1-6. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Araújo C.A.C., Waniek P.J., Jansen A.M. 2014: TcI/TcII co-infection can enhance Trypanosoma cruzi growth in Rhodnius prolixus. Parasit. Vectors 7: 94. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. de Bona S., Correa J.P., San Juan E., Estay-Olea D., Quiroga N., Bacigalupo A., Araya-Donoso R., Botto-Mahan C. 2023: Opportunistic or selective? Stage-dependent feeding behavior in a wild vector of Chagas disease. Int. J. Parasitol. 53: 55-64. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Brenière S.F., Waleckx E., Barnabé C. 2016: Over six thousand Trypanosoma cruzi strains classified into Discrete Typing Units (DTUs): attempt at an inventory. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 10: e0004792. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Chacón F., Bacigalupo A., Álvarez-Duhart B., Cattan P.E., Solís R., Muñoz-San Martín C. 2022: The parasite load of Trypanosoma cruzi modulates feeding and defecation patterns of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans. Microorganisms 10: 1003. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Domínguez-Cruz D.C., Velázquez-Ramírez D.D., Olivo-Vidal Z.E., Fuentes-Vicente J.A., Ochoa-Díaz-López H. 2024: First report of mixed Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units infection in Triatoma phyllosoma in the peri-urban environment of Oaxaca, Mexico. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 57: e007032024. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Duffy T., Cura C.I., Ramirez J.C., Abate T., Cayo N.M., Parrado R., Bello Z.D., Velazquez E., Muñoz-Calderon A., Juiz N.A., Basile J., Garcia L., Riarte A., Nasser JR., Ocampo S.B., Yadon Z.E., Torrico F., de Noya B.A., Ribeiro I., Schijman A.G. 2013: Analytical performance of a multiplex real-time PCR assay using taqman probes for quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi satellite DNA in blood samples. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 7: e2000. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Dworak E.S., Araújo S.M., Gomes M.L., Massago M., Ferreira ÉC., Toledo M.J.O. 2017: Sympatry influence in the interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi with triatomine. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 50: 629-37. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. de Fuentes-Vicente J.A., Gutiérrez-Cabrera A.E., Flores-Villegas A.L., Lowenberger C., Benelli G., Salazar-Schettino P.M., Córdoba-Aguilar A. 2018: What makes an effective Chagas disease vector? Factors underlying Trypanosoma cruzi-triatomine interactions. Acta Trop. 183: 23-31. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Gil-Santana H.R., Chavez T., Pita S., Panzera F., Galvão C. 2022: Panstrongylus noireaui, a remarkable new species of Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) from Bolivia. ZooKeys 1104: 203-225. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Grant-Guillén Y., Nogueda-Torres B., Gascón-Sánchez J., Goicochea-Del Rosal G., Martínez-Ibarra J.A. 2018: Biology of the introduced species Triatoma lecticularia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to northwestern Mexico, under laboratory conditions. Acta Trop. 177: 194-199. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. Izeta-Alberdi A., Pech-May A., Tun-Ku E., Mazariegos-Hidalgo C.J., López-Cancino S.A., Gutiérrez S., Albino-Miranda S., De La Cruz-Felix K., Diaz De La Cruz J.M., Ibarra-Cerdeña C.N., Arellano E., Vallejo R.M., Ocampo M.A., Ramsey J.M. 2023: Trypanosoma cruzi in Mexican Neotropical vectors and mammals: wildlife, livestock, pets, and human population. Salud Públ. Mex. 65: 114-126. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    15. Martínez-Hernández F., Villalobos G., Montañez-Valdez O.D., Martínez-Ibarra J.A. 2022: A new record of the introduced species Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Mexico. J. Med. Entomol. 59: 2150-2157. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Martínez-Ibarra J.A., Nogueda-Torres B., Montañez-Valdez O.D., Michel-Parra J.G. 2023: Influence of blood meal source on the biological parameters of Triatoma pallidipennis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Mexico. Med. Vet. Entomol. 37: 124-131. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Martínez-Ibarra J.A., Valencia-Navarro I., León-Saucedo S., Ibáñez-Cervantes G., Bustos-Saldaña R., Montañez-Valdez O.D., Cervantes Díaz O.I., Nogueda-Torres B. 2011: Distribution and infection of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by Trypanosoma cruzi in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 106: 445-450. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    18. Meraz-Medina T., Nogueda-Torres B., Martínez-Ibarra J.A. 2022: Life history data of Dipetalogaster maxima (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). J. Med. Entomol. 59: 1519-1524. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Meraz-Medina T., Rúa-Vázquez P.D., Montealegre-Bautista J.F., Martínez-Ibarra J.A. 2023: Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas and characterization of human habitats of Triatoma picturata (Usinger) in western Mexico. J. Vector Ecol. J. Soc. Vector Ecol. 48: 66-71. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    20. Padilla-Valdez J.M., Antonio-Campos A., Arias-Del-Angel J.A., Rivas N., Alejandre-Aguilar R. 2021: Susceptibility dynamics between five Trypanosoma cruzi strains and three triatomine (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) species. J. Vector Ecol. J. Soc. Vector. Ecol. 46: 82-95. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Paranaiba L.F., Soares R.P., Guarneri A.A. 2021: Triatoma infestans susceptibility to different Trypanosoma cruzi strains: parasite development and early escape from anterior midgut. Parasitology 148: 295-301. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Quiroga N., Correa J.P., Campos-Soto R., San Juan E., Araya-Donoso R., Díaz-Campusano G., González C.R., Botto-Mahan C. 2022: Blood-meal sources and Trypanosoma cruzi infection in coastal and insular triatomine bugs from the Atacama Desert of Chile. Microorganisms 10: 785. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Ramsey J.M., Peterson A.T., Carmona-Castro O., Moo-Llanes D.A., Nakazawa Y., Butrick M., Tun-Ku E., la Cruz-Félix K., Ibarra-Cerdeña C.N. 2015: Atlas of Mexican Triatominae (Reduviidae: Hemiptera) and vector transmission of Chagas disease. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 110: 339-352. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Rivas N., Martínez-Hernández F., Antonio-Campos A., Sánchez-Cordero V., Alejandre-Aguilar R. 2022: Genetic diversity in peridomiciliary populations of Triatoma mexicana (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in central Mexico. Parasitol. Res. 121: 2875-2886. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    25. Salazar-Schettino P.M., Rojas Wastavino G.E., Cabrera Bravo M., Bucio Torres M.I., Martínez Ibarra J.A., Monroy Escobar M.C., Rodas-Retana A., Guevara-Gómez Y., Vences-Blanco M.O., Ruiz-Hernández A.L., Torres-Gutiérrez E. 2010: Revisión de 13 especies de la familia Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas, en México. J. Selva Andina Res. Soc. 1: 57-81. Go to original source...
    26. Sant'Anna M.R., Soares A.C., Araujo R.N., Gontijo N.F., Pereira M.H. 2017: Triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) blood intake: physical constraints and biological adaptations. J. Insect Physiol. 97: 20-26. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Schaub G.A. 2021: An update on the knowledge of parasite-vector interactions of Chagas disease. Res. Rep. Trop. Med. 12: 63-76. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    28. Téllez-Rendón J., Esteban L., Rengifo-Correa L., Díaz-Albiter H., Huerta H., Dale C. 2023: Triatoma yelapensis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Mexico, with a key of Triatoma species recorded in Mexico. Insects 14: 331. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Tustin A.W., Castillo-Neyra R., Tamayo L.D., Salazar R., Borini-Mayorí K., Levy M.Z. 2020: Elucidating the mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi acquisition by triatomine insects: evidence from a large field survey of Triatoma infestans. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 5: 87. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Urbano P., Hernández C., Ballesteros N., Vega L., Alvarado M., Velásquez-Ortiz N., Martínez D., Barragán K., Ramírez A., Páez-Triana L., Urrea V., Ramírez J.D., González C. 2024: Exploring dietary differences among developmental stages of triatomines infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in different habitats. Int. J. Parasitol. 54: 559-568. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. World Health Organization (WHO) 2024: Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/chagas-disease
    32. Zingales B., Bartholomeu D.C. 2022: Trypanosoma cruzi genetic diversity: impact on transmission cycles and Chagas disease. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 117: e210193. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    33. Zumaquero-Rios J.L., López-Monteon A., López-Domínguez J., Melo-Pérez F.V.R., Torres-Montero J., Ochoa-Martínez P., Ramos-Ligonio A. 2022: Meccus pallidipennis and Triatoma bassolsae as main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi: the case of Xayacatlán de Bravo, Puebla, Mexico. Southwest Entomol. 47: 45-52. Go to original source...

    Return to the content