First report of the bacterial microbiota in the gut of Panstrongylus chinai vector of Chagas disease in southern Ecuador

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and primarily transmitted by blood-sucking insects of the Triatominae subfamily. Endemic in 21 countries across the Americas, CD is mostly found in rural areas but is increasingly spreading to urban regions due to migration. In Ecuador, 16 triatomine species have been identified, including Panstrongylus chinai, which acts as a secondary vector in Loja province. While insecticides have been the primary method for controlling CD, there is a need for improved strategies to prevent its spread. This study examined the bacterial microbiota of P. chinai from three rural communities in Loja province. A total of 63 domiciliary units (DUs) were examined, with an infestation index of 7.9 %. The study analyzed 12 P. chinai individuals collected from the DUs and 50 from laboratory colonies for bacterial composition. The intestine and DNA were extracted, performing molecular detection of T. cruzi by PCR and sequencing the bacterial 16S region. The results showed the presence of T. cruzi in a collected sample and Staphylococcus genus, specifically S. saprophyticus (75%) and S. equorum (25%). These findings improve our understanding of the P. chinai microbiota and offer valuable insights for developing new strategies to control CD.