A darker chromatic variation of Rhodnius pallescens infected by specific genetic groups of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi from Panama

Background Rhodnius pallescens, the only species of this genus reported in Panama, has a wide geographical distribution and is associated with most cases of Chagas disease and human infections with Trypanosoma rangeli in this country. Thus far, no phenotypic variants of this triatomine have been registered. Similarly, genotyping of the trypanosomes that infect this vector has only been partially evaluated.