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NEW FINDINGS OF TRYPANOSOMATID SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH HORSEFLIES (DIPTERA: TABANIDAE) FROM MEXICO.

Julia J. Alavez-Chávez,M. Aguilar-Domínguez,A. C. Oca-Aguilar,Carlos I. Miranda-Caballero,E. Grostieta,Jair Reyes-Hernández,D. Romero-Salas,Ingeborg Becker,A. L. R. Roque,A. Cruz-Romero,S. Sánchez–Montes

Published 2025 in Acta Tropica

ABSTRACT

Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) are among the most diverse groups of dipterans worldwide, yet their role as vectors remains poorly understood, particularly in Neotropics. Although only females are hematophagous, their feeding behavior facilitates the mechanical transmission of a broad wide spectrum of pathogens, including Trypanosoma species. Unfortunately, most contributions on the relationship of Tabanidae and trypanosomatids are scarce, and in the Neotropical region, are limited to South America. Despite Mexico's high horsefly diversity, there are no prior reports documenting their involvement in Trypanosoma transmission. In this study, horseflies were collected from two localities (Sontecomapan and Los Candadillos) in Veracruz, Mexico, using Malaise and Manitoba traps. 65 horseflies representing 12 species were identified, eight individuals were found to be positive for Trypanosoma DNA, all of whom were collected from Sontecomapan. Of these, seven were identified as Diachlorus ferragatus and one as Tabanus oculus, representing new tabanids-Trypanosoma associations in the Neotropical region. Obtained sequences of Trypanosoma were edited using Sequencher v4, aligned using the algorithm Clustal W with MEGA v11.0.11, phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted in IQ-TREE, the delimitation of Trypanosoma species was based on the concept of Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units and it was revealed the presence of Trypanosoma theileri sensu lato in T. oculus and parasites from two distinct clades (suggestive of two novel lineages) in D. ferragatus: one formed a sister group to avian trypanosomes (T. corvi and T. culicavium) provisionally designated as Trypanosoma sp "ferragatus", and another clusters closely with Trypanosoma terrestris as Trypanosoma sp "veracrucensis". Genetic distance analysis further supported the distinctiveness of T. corvi/T. culicavium and T. terrestris. This study provides the first molecular evidence of trypanosomatids infection in horseflies from Mexico and the Mesoamerican region, as well as the presence of new species of Trypanosoma associated with these diptera, highlighting the underexplored diversity of these parasites and emphasizing the need for further investigation into the potential vector role of tabanids in Neotropical ecosystems.

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