Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a vector of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, causative agent of Chagas disease. During the last decade, vector control activities have been systematically carried out in northwestern Argentina, an endemic region for this disease. The general aim of this study to evaluate was spatio-temporal variation of infestation by T. infestans in rural communities of Los Llanos in La Rioja province. We estimated house infestation using two sampling methods: passive and active. Passive collection was conducted with community participation collecting triatomines. Six passive collections were carried out in 397 houses during the warm season between 2014 and 2017. Active collection of T. infestans was thoroughly performed by trained staff for 60 minutes and was carried out once in March 2016. The estimate of intradomestic infestation did not show significant differences between both collection methods (p = 0.39). However, passive collection method had lower sensitivity than active collection method for the estimation of peridomestic infestation and intradomestic colonization (PDI: p< 0.01; ID colonization: p< 0.01). The results obtained with passive collection methods showed that the infestation in the study area was spatially heterogeneous and temporally variable. Intradomiciliary infestation decreased over time (14.4% to 7.9%, p<0.05) although the effect of the chemical treatment application was not associated with the infestation level of T. infestans (p = 0.15) and the Departments had a different response each year (p<0.01). A high infestation cluster was located in the south of our study area during 2016–2017. The vector presence in the houses confirms the importance of to improve entomological surveillance programs. The search for triatomines carried out by the inhabitants might be a useful method to complement the activities of vector control programs in isolated and rural areas.

Triatomines are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, the main endemic disease affecting five to seven million people in Latin America. Besides Triatoma infestans, the most important T. cruzi vector in the Gran Chaco region, other triatomine species associated with sylvatic birds and mammals are responsible for the maintenance of the wild cycle of T. cruzi. The present study aimed at evaluating the house invasion by sylvatic triatomine species in rural communities of the Los Llanos region (La Rioja, Argentina) and its association with environmental variables. House invasion by flying adult triatomines was recorded by trained collectors that surveyed over 377 houses distributed over 73 localities in a 56,600 km 2 study region, between October, 2014 and February, 2015. The result of the study showed the frequent house invasion by adult triatomines: 26.3% houses were infested in 53% of the localities. Seven sylvatic triatomine species were collected, with T. guasayana and T. garciabesi among the most abundant. House invasion by triatomine species showed no spatial aggregation and was not associated with temperature, precipitation, or vegetation cover at the spatial scale considered in the present study. House invasion by the epidemiologically important T. infestans is a concern of rural communities. Besides constituting a latent, although low, risk, the presence of these species negatively interferes with the vigilance activities of the provincial Chagas disease program. Journal of Vector Ecology 41 (1): 97-102. 2016.

[Recibido en abril de 2015, aceptado en septiembre de 2015] En el presente trabajo se describe una experiencia educativa realizada en cuatro Jardines preescolares (Kindergarten) de un área rural de la provincia de La Rioja (Argentina). Esta zona es endémica para la enfermedad de Chagas, considerada uno de los principales problemas de salud pública de Latinoamérica. La experiencia involucró a un total de 198 alumnos de nivel inicial, de entre de 3 y 5 años de edad. Los niños, por medio de juegos y actividades recreativas, recibieron los primeros conocimientos científicos relacionados a la forma de transmisión de esta grave enfermedad y pautas de cómo prevenirla. Al mismo tiempo, se inculcaron contenidos procedimentales propios del trabajo en ciencia como el manejo de lupas binoculares, la comparación, la elaboración de conclusiones en base a indagaciones guiadas. Los contenidos conceptuales consistieron en conocer e identificar a los insectos que transmiten el parásito Trypanosoma cruzi, el cual es causante de la enfermedad de Chagas. Utilizando prácticas lúdicas se pretende dar un enfoque innovador para la apropiación de pautas de conducta que favorezcan la promoción de la salud y, al mismo tiempo, conseguir el acercamiento de los niños a la ciencia desde el nivel inicial.Palabras clave: educación inicial; educación para la salud; alfabetización científica. Scientific literacy in the pre-school level: first knowledge as tools for health promotion and prevention of Chagas diseaseIn this paper, an educational experience carried out in four Kindergartens in a rural area in La Rioja province (Argentina) is described. This province is endemic for Chagas disease, considered one of the main public health problems in Latin America. The experience involved 198 pre-school students, aged between 3 and 5 years old. Children, through games and recreational activities, were exposed to scientific knowledge of transmission of this serious disease and how to prevent it. At the same time, the pupils learned typical proceedings of work in science, such as handling binocular loupe microscope, comparison and elaboration of conclusions based on guided inquiries. The conceptual contents developed were identify the insects that transmit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, causal agent of Chagas disease. This aims to provide an innovative approach to the appropriation of behavioral patterns that favor the promotion of health through ludic practices and at the same time, getting the children approach science from the initial level. IntroducciónLa alfabetización científica surge como una necesidad para la preparación de un ciudadano con capacidad de intervención social (Vascincelos y Félix Praia, 2005). Actualmente, la permanente información sobre nuevos conocimientos invade a los niños desde la primera infancia de forma tal que, muchas veces, dirige su atención y hasta reestructura sus escalas de valores. En este contexto, el propósito de la enseñanza de las Ciencias Naturales en la escuela, es favorecer la alfabetización científica de l...