[Population structure and genetic variability of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: reduviidae) from different geographic areas of Colombia].

INTRODUCTION: Rhodnius prolixus is the most important vector of Chagas disease in Colombia. Genetic characterization of this species is useful to understand its potential of dispersion. The distribution of the vector and the genetic population structure are important factors for the adequate implementation of control programs and epidemiological surveillance of Chagas disease.
OBJECTIVE: Genetic relationships were established for populations of R. prolixus collected from several habitat types and representative geographic areas of Colombia. A second aim was to assess its population genetic structure and dispersion across Colombia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic comparisons were made from three domestic populations of R. prolixus from (1) Tolima Province, (2) Cundinamarca Province and (3) the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta in northern Colombia, and (4) one sylvatic population from Casanare. Two molecular techniques were used to evaluate the genetic structure of these populations-analysis of the ITS-2 of ribosomal DNA by PCR/RFLP and RAPDs.
RESULTS: Rhodnius prolixus shows a moderate genetic variability (Fst 0.06-0.15). Among domestic populations, the migration rates found were adequate (Nm >1) to maintain gene flow. A moderate to large degree of genetic differentiation was observed between the sylvatic population from Casanare and the domestic populations from the centre of the country (Tolima and Cundinamarca).
CONCLUSION: The domestic populations of R. prolixus are homogeneous because genetic flow exists between them, and this is favourable to chemical control, while the sylvatic population clusters apart from the domestic populations. Hence the need to study the genetic structure of the sylvatic foci, their possible dispersion routes and the epidemiological risk that they represents.