Identifying triatomine symbiont Rhodococcus rhodnii as intestinal bacteria from Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) laboratory insects

The Nocardiaceae family members are symbiont bacteria from triatomine insects. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Nocardiaceae family bacteria in Rhodnius ecuadoriensis intestinal bacterial flora. Bacterial colonies were isolated from the intestinal content from all insects; they had pink or coral pink pigmentation corresponding to Gram-positive coccobacilli. These isolates' biochemical identification by catalase and urease tests and the assimilation of different carbon sources led to Rhodococcus rhodnii being identified. This result was confirmed by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing. Additional studies are required to establish the symbiont role of this bacterium in R. ecuadoriensis as it has in Rhodnius prolixus.