RANDOM AMPLIFICATION OF POLYMORPHIC DNA AS A TOOL FOR TAXONOMIC STUDIES OF TRIATOMINE BUGS (HEMIPTERA, REDUVIIDAE)

Eleven of 27 decameric primers were found to be suitable for random am plification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) from triatomine bugs on the basi s that they produced discrete profiles and distinguished among Panstro ngylus megistus (Burmeister), Rhodnius prolixus Stal, and Triatoma inf estans (Klug). The legs, or single leg segments, of individual bugs we re used as the source of DNA so that the taxonomic value of the bug wa s conserved. Within the scope of the specimens studied, RAPD profiles allowed assignment to species even when bugs were kept dry for up to 1 2 mo. Profiles for individuals within a species were not identical. RA PD profiles, with the specimens tested, distinguished among species of 3 pairs considered to be morphologically similar and closely related, namely, Rhodnius ecuadorensis Lent & Leon and Rhodnius pictipes Stal; Rhodnius nasutus Stal, and Rhodnius neglectus Lent; Rhodnius prolixus Stal and Rhodnius robustus Larrousse. RAPD data conformed with the pe rceived affinities among these species. RAPD polymorphisms were seen w ith T. infestans from 3 different localities, but none of the polymorp hisms was confined to 1 source. RAPD provided a molecular basis to rea ssess taxonomic relationships within the Triatomine subfamily. The acc urate distinction of triatomine species and of intraspecific bug popul ations may contribute to elimination of vector-borne Chagas disease fr om the Americas.