Which assassin bugs can transmit Chagas disease?

Assassin bugs capable of transmitting Chagas disease belong to the subfamily Triatominae, commonly known as triatomine bugs or kissing bugs. These insects transmit the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi by depositing it in their excrement on the skin of a host while feeding on blood; the parasite then enters the body through mucous membranes or skin abrasions, often when the victim scratches the bite site.123

While many species within the subfamily can carry the parasite, the most notable vectors include members of the following genera:

• Rhodnius: Including Rhodnius prolixus, a primary vector in South and Central America.13
• Triatoma: Including the species Triatoma dimidiata, which remains an endemic vector in parts of Central America.13
• Panstrongylus: Also identified as a genus containing carriers of the parasite.1

These insects are medically significant because they are hematophagous parasites that frequently inhabit human dwellings, where they emerge at night to feed on the blood of sleeping humans and other mammals.13