Abrahan L, Hernández L, Gorla D, Catalá S
Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja, Anillaco, 5301, La Rioja, Argentina.
J Med Entomol. 2008 Jul;45(4):660-6. doi: 10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[660:pdotia]2.0.co;2.
Triatoma infestans (Klug) is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The phenotype of the species varies at different geographic scales. The objective of this study was to compare the antennal phenotype of spatially close T. infestans populations and to evaluate its usefulness as a marker of exchange of individuals between populations. The antennal phenotype of 190 T. infestans from Argentina and Bolivia was analyzed using uni- and multivariate techniques. This study shows heterogeneity of the antennal phenotypes of closely related T. infestans populations living in different habitats. Specimens collected in a goat corral and a rabbit cage in La Rioja (Argentina) were dissimilar to the specimens collected in the nearby intradomestic environment. Similarly, specimens from peridomestic corrals in Cochabamba (Bolivia) were different from the intradomestic and sylvatic specimens, indicating some degree of isolation between these populations. In contrast, T. infestans collected in chicken coops and the intradomestic environment were similar, in all studied regions, suggesting a frequent exchange of individuals between the two habitats and/or because of the similarity of the habitat due to the presence of chickens in the intradomestic environment. We propose that each habitat affects in a particular mode the insect morphology and these changes could be used to identify recolonizing T. infestans. These results support the hypothesis of different degrees of isolation between intradomestic and peridomestic habitats. Within this context, special attention should be given to chicken coops and other close peridomestic structures in relation to the recolonization process of domestic habitats by T. infestans.
克氏锥蝽（Triatoma infestans (Klug)）是查加斯病病原体克氏锥虫（Trypanosoma cruzi）的主要传播媒介。该物种的表型在不同地理尺度上存在差异。本研究的目的是比较空间上相邻的克氏锥蝽种群的触角表型，并评估其作为种群间个体交换标记的有用性。使用单变量和多变量技术分析了来自阿根廷和玻利维亚的190只克氏锥蝽的触角表型。本研究表明，生活在不同栖息地的亲缘关系密切的克氏锥蝽种群的触角表型存在异质性。在拉里奥哈（阿根廷）的一个山羊圈和一个兔笼中采集的标本与在附近家庭环境中采集的标本不同。同样，来自科恰班巴（玻利维亚）家庭周边畜栏的标本与家庭内和野生标本不同，表明这些种群之间存在一定程度的隔离。相比之下，在所有研究区域，在鸡舍和家庭环境中采集的克氏锥蝽相似，这表明两个栖息地之间个体频繁交换，和/或由于家庭环境中存在鸡，栖息地具有相似性。我们提出，每个栖息地以特定方式影响昆虫形态，这些变化可用于识别重新定殖的克氏锥蝽。这些结果支持了家庭内和家庭周边栖息地之间存在不同程度隔离的假设。在此背景下，在克氏锥蝽重新定殖家庭栖息地的过程中，应特别关注鸡舍和其他靠近家庭周边的结构。
