Genomic changes of Chagas disease vector, South America.(Research) From: Emerging Infectious Diseases | Date: March 1, 2004| Author: Panzera, Francisco; Dujardin, Jean Pierre; Nicolini, Paula; Caraccio, Maria Noel; Rose, Virginia; Tellez, Tatiana; Bermudez, Hernan; Bargues, Maria Dolores; Mas-Coma, Santiago; O'Connor, Jose Enrique; Perez, Ruben | COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

We analyzed the main karyologic changes that have occurred during the dispersal of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease. We identified two allopatric groups, named Andean and non-Andean. The Andean specimens present C-heterochromatic blocks in most of their 22 chromosomes, whereas non-Andean specimens have only 4-7 autosomes with C-banding. These heterochromatin differences are the likely cause of a striking DNA content variation (approximately 30%) between Andean a...