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Aspects of classification of Hemiptera hemocytes from six triatomine species

Abstract

The objective of this work was to characterize, and compare different morphological types of hemocytes of Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius, Rhodnius neglectus, Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, and Dipetalogaster maximus. This information provides the basis for studying the cellular immune systems of these insects. Seven morphological hemocyte types wereidentified by phase-contrast microscopy: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular cells, cytocytes, oenocytoids, adipohemocytes and giant cells. All seven types of hemocytes are not present in every species. For example, adipohemocytes and oenocytoids were not observed in P. megistus and P. infestans, and giant cells were rarely found in any of the species studied. The hemocytes of rhodnius and Dipetalogaster are more similar to each other than those from Triatoma and Panstrongylus which in turn closely resemble each other. Emphasis is placed on methodological problems arising in this work wicah are discussed in detail.

hemocytes; Hemiptera; triatomine; Rhodnius; Triatoma; Panstrongylus; Dipetaloaster


ABSTRACT

Aspects of classification of Hemiptera hemocytes from six triatomine species

Patricia de Azambuja1

Eloi S. Garcia2

Norman A. Ratcliffe3

Universidade Federal Fluminense, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Niterói, Brasil

Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

University of Swansea, School of Biological Sciences, Biomedical and Physiological Research Group, Swansea, UK

The objective of this work was to characterize, and compare different morphological types of hemocytes of Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius, Rhodnius neglectus, Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, and Dipetalogaster maximus. This information provides the basis for studying the cellular immune systems of these insects. Seven morphological hemocyte types wereidentified by phase-contrast microscopy: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular cells, cytocytes, oenocytoids, adipohemocytes and giant cells. All seven types of hemocytes are not present in every species. For example, adipohemocytes and oenocytoids were not observed in P. megistus and P. infestans, and giant cells were rarely found in any of the species studied. The hemocytes of rhodnius and Dipetalogaster are more similar to each other than those from Triatoma and Panstrongylus which in turn closely resemble each other. Emphasis is placed on methodological problems arising in this work wicah are discussed in detail.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    15 June 2009
  • Date of issue
    Mar 1991
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