Species of the subfamily Triatominae Jeannel, 1919 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) present in the Collection of Chagas Disease Vectors (FIOCRUZ-COLVEC), State of Minas Gerais

INTRODUCTION

Biological collections are depositories of information on different species and contribute to the knowledge, protection, conservation and maintenance of biodiversity¹. Due to the importance of biological collections for a nation’s scientific knowledge and development, as well as the global concern for the preservation of biodiversity, collections are currently considered an inalienable heritage of the state and of the hosting institutions. Collections are assigned this importance because they house taxonomic data on the species and information related to the environment, enabling, albeit indirectly, the acquisition of knowledge of different regions of the planet.

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation has created the Permanent Forum of Biological Collections, which assessed and conclusively interpreted the collections of each regional unit and granted institutional recognition for those meeting the criteria of the analysis². The Collection of Chagas Disease Vectors (Fiocruz-COLVEC), located in the Laboratory of Triatomines and Epidemiology of Chagas Disease [Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas (LATEC)] of the René Rachou Research Center [Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou (CPqRR/FIOCRUZ)] underwent the process of institutional recognition and approval. Recently recognized by the Ministry of Environment as a Depository of Genetic Heritage Component Samples (Federal Official Gazette No. 168, August 29, 2012, Section 3, page 123), the collection houses different populations of triatomines from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States of America, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Collection of Chagas Disease Vectors was started through a donation from the private collection of Dr. Hélio Noguera Espínola in 1996. Comprising 286 species, this collection is important not only for its historical and affective value but also because it hosts triatomine populations from different geographic regions, including areas that are currently completely urbanized. Most of the collection was gathered after the 1990s, and it mainly consists of voucher specimens from research projects carried out by LATEC. In addition, the collection holds an increasing number of species obtained in close collaboration with the Triatomine and Epidemiology of Chagas Disease Reference Laboratory (Laboratório de Referência de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas – FIOCRUZ/Ministry of Health, Secretary of Health Surveillance). In this regard, the importance of the work carried out by COLVEC in collaboration with the Reference Service and the Regional Departments of Health from municipalities in the State of Minas Gerais is noteworthy for promoting consolidation within the perspectives of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).

The demand for data associated with these species, including from a growing non-taxonomist audience, has been increasing¹. Moreover, information must be readily available both to save time in the search for information on the tags attached to specimens and to maintain the integrity of the specimens by avoiding excessive handling. Thus, the computerization of biological collections has been a priority in many institutions to address access and organization and to protect the collections³.

Data input on the specimens in a digitalized database is the most efficient method of making this information available to a wide audience and ensuring visibility and access and thereby facilitating the dissemination of data. The present work aims to report the number of species currently included in the COLVEC collection.

METHODS

The collection is archived in good storage conditions in LATEC in a dedicated room. Insects are preserved dry; adults (males and females) and fourth and fifth stage nymphs are mounted on entomological pins, whereas eggs and nymphs from first to third stage are glued onto cardboard triangles and pinned.

In addition to the conventional registry in the record book, COLVEC’s specimens are cataloged in a database managed by the Reference Center on Environmental Information (CRIA), thus ensuring their access and visibility. Both the record book and the database contain specific information on each specimen, such as data on the collector, collection location, date of collection, and name of the investigator who provided the identification and taxonomic data. These data are provided by the curator of the collection. The database is available for consultation online on CRIA’s website, integrated with the speciesLink network (http://splink.cria.org.br), and COLVEC’s website (http://colvec.fiocruz.br/index). The lists of triatomines presented below were prepared based on the first database.

RESULTS

Among the 4,778 specimens registered in the CRIA database, 811 originated from other countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States of America, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) as Table 1 and Table 2. Thus, most of the collection consists of triatomine species native to Brazil, with 18 of its 27 states represented in the collection (Table 3 and Table 4). The States of Ceará and Minas Gerais are particularly well represented, contributing 952 and 2,071 specimens, respectively (Figure 1). The large number of specimens from these states is due to the partnership between LATEC and the two state health departments, which is essential for conducting projects. With regard to populations, the number of specimens from Minas Gerais confers a peculiar property to the collection: the regionalized character of the triatomine fauna.

FIGURE 1 Current number of COLVEC’s entries per Brazilian State. NI: no information; COLVEC: Collection of Chagas Disease Vectors. 

In short, the collection is composed of two species of the tribe Cavernicolini Usinger, 1944; fifteen species of the tribe Rhodniini Pinto, 1926, of which 12 are of the genus Rhodnius and three are of the genusPsammolestes; and 39 species are of the tribe Triatomini Jeannel, 1919, represented by the genus Dipetalogaster, two species of the genus Eratyrus, two species of the genus Meccus, seven of the genus Panstrongylus and 27 of the genus Triatoma.

In the following list, only native species from Brazil are presented. These species are organized in alphabetical order by tribe, genus, species and sex. Whenever possible, the state and locality of capture in Brazil were also added, followed by the total number of specimens.

DISCUSSION

Considering that the conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of humankind, biological collections must serve as guardians of ex situ biological heritage. In the broadest sense of their use, such collections serve as basis for scientific research and educational activities and can provide valuable material of historical importance⁴. Thus, FIOCRUZ holds diverse collections that are important information sources for the reconstruction of the history of biological and biomedical sciences in Brazil⁵.

The primary mission of COLVEC’s curatorship is based on the principles of the organization and permanent preservation of biological material^6,7, accessibility to material and associated information⁸ and ensuring the taxonomic identification of the Triatominae. However, other related activities are worth noting: 1) supporting research, as the collection is responsible for the legal deposit of voucher specimens from projects; 2) supporting the Reference Service through training courses and the identification of Triatominae; 3) making the collection available for public research through universities, research centers and museums; 4) contributing to the training of human resources through the guidance of students; and 5) participating in scientific and educational events promoting conservation awareness.

With a total capacity for 15,000 specimens, there are currently 5,467 entries in COLVEC’s record book. This number will likely continuously increase due to research activities, the Reference Service and the collection’s recent accreditation as a Depository of Genetic Heritage Component Samples. The exponential growth of the collection is expected to ensure a greater depiction of the diversity of the Brazilian triatomine fauna as well as of other countries where Chagas disease is endemic. The largest number of specimens and the different origins of a species can enable studies on intraspecific variability, with morphological variations observed dynamically throughout the species’ distribution area.

The list presents records of 4,778 specimens in CRIA’s database. To date, there are 148 species of triatomine recognized^9–15, of which 56 have representatives in the COLVEC collection and come from different geographic origins. Most of the collection comprises autochthonous species from Brazil, whose current triatomine fauna includes more than 60 species^11,16,17. Of these species, 35 (57%) are registered in COLVEC, highlighting the taxonomic relevance of the collection.

The geographic distribution of Panstrongylus lutzi did not previously include the State of Minas Gerais; therefore, this list also helps extend the known occurrence of this vector, which affects the municipalities of Januária and Pirapora. Until recently, this species was mistaken for Panstrongylus geniculatus, which may occur more broadly because there are no reports of P. lutzi in the municipalities of Pirapora and Januária. Therefore, the need to establish greater interactivity between service laboratories and the reference laboratory must be emphasized. Moreover, two points are fundamental to lab staff members operating within the Chagas Disease Control Program: 1) participation in training courses on the identification of triatomines offered by LATEC in partnership with COLVEC and 2) assembling service collections with representatives of the local triatomine fauna.

Aimed at strengthening, complementing and expanding the collection, the objective of this study is to contribute to current and further studies and, primarily, ensure the ex situ conservation of triatomine fauna.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest