Entomological surveillance of Chagas disease in the East of Minas Gerais region, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: After decentralizing the actions of the Chagas Disease Control Program (CDCP) in Brazil, municipalities were now responsible for control measures against this endemic, supervised by the Regional Health Superintendencies (RHS). We aimed to evaluate the recent entomological surveillance of Chagas disease in the Regional Health Superintendence of Governador Valadares (RHS/GV) from 2014 to 2019. Methods:Triatomines captured by residents during entomological surveillance were sent to the reference laboratory, where the species and evolutionary stages were identified, place of capture, and presence of Trypanosoma cruzi. A database was created, and the following were calculated: the rate of infection by T. cruzi (overall rate and rate by species), monthly seasonality, spatial distribution of species, number of captures, and infected triatomines/health microregions. Results:We identified 1,708 insects; 1,506 (88.2%) were triatomines, most were adult instars (n=1,469), and few were nymphs (n=37). The identified species were Triatoma vitticeps, Panstrongylus megistus, Panstrongylus diasi, Rhodnius neglectus, and Panstrongylus geniculatus. The first three were most frequently captured and distributed throughout the study area. Most bugs were captured intradomicile (72.5%), mainly in the second semester, between September and November, with an average infection rate of 41.5% (predominantly T. vitticeps, 49.2%). All municipalities sent triatomines, especially in the microregions of Governador Valadares.Conclusions: These data reinforce the need and importance of improving Chagas disease control measures in the region to establish active and participatory entomological surveillance.

Occurrence and distribution of Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) in a metropolitan area of Southern Brazil

“…It should be highlighted that P. megistus, an insect which can be found in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil, is one of the main vectors of CD in Brazil, due to its wide geographical distribution and high susceptibility to T. cruzi 5,6 . In addition, this species exhibits a high capacity to colonize artificial ecotopes 7 , including the places that have been just described in the metropolitan areas in Brazil 8,9 , and to establish peridomicile and intradomicile colonies in different regions 10,11 .…”