Based on our results, we postulate the following possible scenario in R. prolixus during long-term infections with T. rangeli: when the parasite infects the digestive tract of the insect, it causes a systemic decrease in the activation of the Toll (by upregulating the levels of the inhibitor Rp-Cactus) and IMD (by downregulating the TF Rp-Relish) immune pathways, which allows the setting of the infection. The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is infection.