Triatoma virus (TrV) is an insect virus within the Discistroviridae familiy, discovered in Argentina in 1987 and found naturally infecting Triatoma infestans. (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). This species of Triatomines, insects commonly known in Argentina as “vinchucas”*, is of great epidemiological importance in Chagas´ disease transmission throughout Latin America.

Research work carried on TrV up to date, may indicate that this virus could be used as a biological agent to control many of the Triatomines living in the American continent. RedTrV is a consortium formed by more than 30 different groups from 16 countries from Latin America and Europe. Thus, Physicians and Researchers on Chagas and other tropical diseases; Biochemists and Biologists who study Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as groups doing research on the Triatoma Virus, take part in this association. Together with the research centers, several biotechnological companies take also part in RedTrV and are interested in developing a future biopesticide with TrV as active agent.

In this web site you will find information about the objectives of RedTrV, its members and organization structure, scientific and training activities developed, as well as all the available information on TrV research work results.

We hope for this webpage not to be just another website but, from the early beginning, the gateway to everybody who wants to join to this challenging project.

RedTrV secretariat.

* a word of native origin that means “that lets itself fall down”, also called barbeiros, chupança, chinche besucona, chirimacha, chipo, pito, chinche, chupón, chinchorro, chinche picuda, TICK, Chincha Gurãzu, chinche hocicona, etc.