Population structure of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans, at the urban-rural interface.

ABSTRACT: The increasing rate of biological invasions resulting from human transport or human-mediated changes to the environment has had devastating ecological and public health consequences. The kissing bug, Triatoma infestans, has dispersed through the Peruvian city of Arequipa. The biological invasion of this insect has resulted in a public health crisis, putting thousands of residents of this city at risk of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and subsequent development of Chagas disease. Here, we show that populations of Tria. infestans in geographically distinct districts within and around this urban centre share a common recent evolutionary history although current gene flow is restricted even between proximal sites. The population structure among the Tria. infestans in different districts is not

SUBMITTER: Foley EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3801106 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature