Estudio preliminar de la estructura genética de poblaciones domésticas, peridomésticas y silvestres de Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

in order to study the genetic structure of sylvatic, peridomestic and domestic populations of triatoma dimidiata, we used the randomly amplified polymorphic dna (rapd) technique. the genetic flow among populations was estimated to determine the epidemiológica! risk of nondomiciliated populations in the transmission of chagas disease. fourteen sylvatic, 10 peridomestic and 15 domestic insects were analyzed. the estimated wright 's fst was 0.071 showing low genetic differentiation and an effective migration rate nm of 3.3 suggesting a movement of at least tnree individuáis per generation. these findings suggest that nondomiciliated populations of t. dimidiata represent an epidemiológica! menace for the transmission of chagas disease, due to their ability to colonize dwelling. it is necessary to perform: an epidemiológica! surveillance not only of the domestic populations but also on the peridomestic ones. it is also important to carry out new and better control alternatives for reservoirs, and to offer a permanent education program to people at risk of infection.