Salivary heme proteins distinguish Rhodnius prolixus from Rhodnius robustus (Hemiptera : Reduviidae : Triatominae)

Rhodnius prolixus interpopulation variability was studied based on a new ap proach using salivary heme proteins (nitrophorins) electrophoresis in starc h gel. We compared salivary proteins profiles of R. prolixus from three dif ferent laboratory colonies from Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil and Rhodnius ro bustus from Venezuela, constructing a UPGMA. The Honduran and Venezuelan po pulations could not be distinguished from each other, but the Brazilian pop ulation was well separated from the others. The high similarity between Hon duran and Venezuelan specimens lends support to current theories that the C entral American populations of R. prolixus may have been introduced from a Venezuelan origin. The low polymorphism shown by the Honduran specimens is in agreement with a possible founder effect. This new approach also disting uished R. prolixus populations from R. robustus, species with extreme pheno typical similarity. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.