Geographic distribution of Triatominae vectors in America

Abstract

At present, some 150 species are grouped in the subfamily Triatominae. The number of valid species in this subfamily is mainly based on the revision by Lent and Wygodzinsky, 1 later updated by Galva ̃o et al. 2 and has increased afterwards by the description of new taxa since 2010, including Belminus corredori, Belminus ferroae, Panstrongylus mitarakaensis, Triatoma boliviana, Triatoma juazeirensis, Triatoma jatai, Triatoma pintodiasi, Rhodnius barretti, Rhodnius montenegrensis. Most triatomine species (B135) occur exclusively in the New World, between latitude 42 N (northeast of the United States) and 46 S Argentine Patagonia). 11 One species (Triatoma rubrofasciata) is widespread according to reports from port areas, both in the New World (mainly northeast Brazil) and in many tropical regions of Asia and Africa. 12 Seven species of Triatoma and six species of the genus Linshcosteus are known to exist only in Asia and India, respectively. 1,2 Some authors suggest that the Old World species are derived from T. rubrofasciata and transported from North America, associated with rats on sailing ships. The Triatominae occurring in the Americas are customarily classified into 5 tribes and 15 genera, 1 including Alberproseniini (genus Alberprosenia), Bolboderini (genera Belminus, Bolbodera, Microtriatoma, and Parabelminus), Cavernicolini (Cavernicola), Rhodniini (Psammolestes and Rhodnius), and Triatomini (Dipetalogaster, Eratyrus, Hermanlentia, Mepraia, Panstrongylus, Paratriatoma, and Triatoma). Extensive information exists on their geographic distribution, and as a general review of the group we suggest the reading of a few studies. A recentopen access bibliographic database BIBTRI, compiled under the coordination of Dr. J. Rabinovich, offers 7000 1 references with pdf support (www.bibtri.com.ar).The present review on the geographic distribution of Triatominae considers the species of epidemiological importance or the groups of species in which at least one species has an epidemiological significance as a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi to humans. All the species considered belong to the tribes Rhodniini and Triatomini.