The objective of this study is to report on the colonization of palm trees
by Rhodnius neglectus, its invasion in an urban area, in Araçatuba -
São Paulo, and the control and surveillance measures that have been put in place.
Domiciliary triatomine searches occurred in apartments upon the inhabitants'
notification. The collected insects were identified and examined for natural
infection and food sources with a precipitin test. To search the palm trees, tarps
were used to cover the floor, and a “Munck” truck equipped with a tree-pruning device
was utilized. Chemical control was performed with the utilization of a manual
compression. In 2009, 81 specimens of Rhodnius neglectus were
collected from the domiciles by the population. The precipitin test revealed a
presence of human blood in 2.7% of the samples. Entomological studies were carried
out in these domiciles and in those located within a radius of 200 meters. The search
performed in the palm trees resulted in the capture of 882 specimens of triatomines,
negative for tripanosomatids. Mechanical and chemical controls were carried out. New
searches conducted in the palm trees in the same year resulted in the capture of six
specimens. The mechanical and chemical controls of the palm trees, together with the
population's work, proved to be effective, therefore preventing these insects'
colonization of the city's domiciles.
The purpose of our investigation was to analyze the persistence, in the State of São Paulo, of domiciliary units highly infested with Chagas disease triatomine vectors. Comprehensive epidemiologic information collected from 1990 to 1999 in the State of S o Paulo was retrieved from database files. Consistently high infestation rates were found in 43 localities distributed among 21 municipalities in the Ara atuba region. Captures produced predominantly peridomiciliary Triatoma sordida specimens, mostly adult females and fifth-instar nymphs, 94.6% of which containing ingesta negative for human blood. The houses, mostly inhabited (87.4%), were located near the residual woodland savanna in 64.3% of the localities. Poultry coops were found in association with 97.6% of all domiciliary units. Interestingly, in all the houses with persistent infestation, the inhabitants paid no evident attention to hygiene Lack of timely infestation control associated with the biological characteristics of the reduviid species involved, along with the conditions prevailing around the dwellings, favor the repeated invasion and consequent maintenance of colonization by triatomines.
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