Genetics of Major Insect Vectors

Vector-borne diseases remain a major cause of human and animal morbidity and mortality contributing to immeasurable suffering while impeding economic development. Without available and accessible vaccines and effective treatments for affected people, targeting the insect vectors to block pathogen transmission continues to be the only efficacious intervention. Understanding the genetics of the insect vectors provides important information needed for successful disease control. In this chapter the authors review what is known about the genetics of four major insect vector groups-tsetse flies, which carry African trypanosomiasis, triatomine bugs, carriers of American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease, anopheline mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria, and ticks, vectors of a variety of pathogens. Biogeography, phylogeny and systematics, cytogenetics, population genetics, and genomics for these vectors are reviewed. In addition, the authors describe new research tools that may in the future provide more effective disease management.