Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42289717›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2026

Live triatomine bug, vector of Trypanosoma cruzi , found engorged in Lisbon hotel room: A first for Portugal and for Europe.

Jennifer K Peterson, Alexander R Kelley, Trinity Antoszewski, Madeline Brown, Hanna Cortes, Peyton I Easton, Grace Ferry, Thoburn Freeman, Cate Freiwald, Erik Hagen and 12 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Jennifer K PetersonDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA. jkp@udel.edu.
Alexander R KelleyDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Trinity AntoszewskiDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Madeline BrownDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Hanna CortesDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Peyton I EastonDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Grace FerryDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Thoburn FreemanDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Cate FreiwaldDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Erik HagenDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Hunt KinnairdDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Luna LewinDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Malaki LewisDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Jessie McNultyDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Natalie MooreDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Erin MullisDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Stella PettitDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Luke SchultzDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Sarah SharpDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
William StockerDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Jillian TunstallDepartment of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Jader de OliveiraSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Triatomine bugs are blood feeding insects that transmit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease. The bugs are found primarily in the Americas with a few species in Asia and Africa. Here, we report the first case of a live triatomine bug in Europe, found in a Lisbon hotel room. In August 2025 the hotel room occupants discovered a triatomine bug perched on the headboard of their bed. Upon capture, bright red blood emerged from the bug; the occupants suspected that it had bitten them during the night. The bug was identified morphologically as triatomine species Hospesneotomae protracta, which was confirmed molecularly. Hospesneotomae protracta is native to the southwestern USA and northern Mexico, where it is a competent T. cruzi vector. Trypanosoma cruzi was not detected in this specimen. Although this case likely represents an accidental importation, it illustrates the ease with which disease vectors can be unknowingly transported globally. Ergo it is crucial to document and share these findings to prevent introductions of non-native arthropods of medical importance.

Indexed as

Chagas DiseaseInsect VectorsTriatominaeTrypanosoma cruziAnimalsEuropeHumansPortugalAccidental vector importationChagas diseaseEuropeHospesneotomae protractaPortugalTriatoma protractaTriatomine bugsTrypanosoma cruziVector hitchhiking

Identifiers

PMID42289717
PMCPMC13273934

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.