The survival and molting incidence of fifth-instar nymphs of Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835), a vector of Chagas’ disease, were investigated following sequential heat shocks in which a mild shock (35 or 40°C, 1 h) preceded a more drastic one (40°C, 12 h). The shocks were separated by 8-, 18- 24-, or 72-h periods at 28°C. The heat-shock tolerance response was more effective when the first shock was given at 40°C. When the period between shocks was 18 h, the tolerance to sequential shocks (in terms of specimen survival) weakened, which suggested a transient control of the process that enables the organism to circumvent the unfavorable effects of severe shock. In terms of molting incidence, the heat-shock tolerance was only demonstrated when the period between the first shock at 40°C for 1 h and the second shock at 40°C for 12 h was ≥24 h. These results are the first to demonstrate the induction of heat-shock tolerance in a blood-sucking hemipteran.
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1 July 2001
Experimentally Induced Heat-Shock Tolerance in Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Simone L. Garcia,
Maria Luiza S. Mello,
Nancy L. Garcia,
Vera L. C C. Rodrigues
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Journal of Medical Entomology
Vol. 38 • No. 4
July 2001
Vol. 38 • No. 4
July 2001
heat shock
heat-shock tolerance
molting incidence
Panstrongylus megistus
survival