-In order to determine the risk of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi by triatomines in Metztitlan municipality, Hidalgo State, Mexico, entomological indexes were calculated and the characteristics of dwellings were described. A transversal, retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was performed by means of an intentional not probabilistic and expertise sampling from January to December of 2005 in 10 localities in which presence of triatomines were investigated either intra or peridomestic environmental in 699 houses. Building material and presence of infected triatomines with T. cruzi were registered to determine entomologic indexes. The triatomine species collected were: Triatoma barberi (Usinger) and T. mexicana (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). The results indicated that natural infection index varied from 7.7% to 50%; colonization index reached 80%; infestation index varied from 7.7% to 25%; dispersion index was 70%. Stone-walled houses were more infested. We can conclude that it is necessary to establish T. cruzi transmission control measures against triatomines in localities from Metztitlan, primarily in stone-walled houses where T. barberi occurs, as it was the most important vector species in the transmission of T. cruzi in this municipality.
KEY WORDS: Triatoma barberi, Triatoma mexicana, Chagas disease, vector, epidemiologyLa enfermedad de Chagas, cuyo agente causal es el protozoario hemoflagelado Trypanosoma cruzi, es un importante problema de salud pública en países latinoamericanos en donde se ha estimado que aproximadamente el 25% de los habitantes están en riesgo de infección lo cual es alrededor de 120 millones (Guzmán 2001). En México se realizó la Encuesta Nacional Seroepidemiológica (ENSE) demostrando presencia de personas seropositivas a T. cruzi en todos los estados de la República con prevalencias que varían del 0,1% al 5% (Velasco et al 1992).La transmisión de T. cruzi al humano ocurre mediante varios mecanismos, el más frecuente es mediante las deyecciones de insectos redúvidos hematófagos denominados triatóminos, quienes defecan sobre un individuo durante el momento en que le están picando (Brener 1973, García et al 2000. Por tanto, los habitantes que viven en las zonas donde se detecta la presencia de triatóminos quedan en riesgo de adquirir la enfermedad de Chagas. Independientemente de las especies que se encuentren, todas las especies son transmisoras desde sus etapas ninfales hasta las adultas. Sin embargo, un dato interesante es que la capacidad transmisora del redúvido, además de su comportamiento, puede ser distinta para cada especie (Alejandre et al
Chagas disease represents a significant public health problem in Mexico. In the state of Hidalgo, studies on the presence of triatomines are scarce and restricted to a few locations. To determine the risk of transmission in the state of Hidalgo and stratify the vector potential, the distribution of Triatominae was surveyed from 2015 to 2016 in collaboration with primary health care services and local communities. A total of 570 specimens was collected in 278 houses in 25 municipalities. The species of Triatominae detected were T. dimidiata with 391 samples, T. mexicana with 159 samples, T. gerstaeckeri with 17 samples, and T. barberi with three samples. The samples were collected in domestic and peridomestic areas. The general index of natural infection was 9.8%. Indices of colonization and crowding were determined for species and municipality and results were variable.
Background:
We report the presence of
Triatoma longipennis
for the first time in two localities in Hidalgo, Mexico.
Methods:
This study was conducted at Tecozautla municipality, Hidalgo. Collection was performed in April 2022.
Results:
We collected eight triatomines from Guadalupe: two fourth-instar nymphs, three fifth-instar nymphs, one female, and two males. In San Miguel Caltepantla, a female was collected inside a dwelling. One sample tested positive for
Trypanosoma cruzi
.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest the need to investigate the dynamics of this species with respect to the inhabitants of the study area.
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