Domestic Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) infestation in Northern Peru: a comparative trial of detection methods during a six-month follow-up

Abstract

Two passive methods in the assessment of intradomiciliary infestation by Rhodnius ecuadoriensis were tested: (i) the Gomes Nu ez sensor box (GN), (ii) sheets of white typing paper and (iii) one active timed manual method. The study was carried out in the Alto Chicama River Valley, Province of Gran Chim , Department of La Libertad. The study design consisted of an initial searching of triatomines inside of the domestic environment by the manual capture active procedure (man/hour) covering all the studied houses. Then, matched pairs of GN boxes and paper sheets were simultaneously installed in the bedrooms of 207 households distributed in 19 localities. A comparative prospective trial of these passive detection devices were monitored at 2, 4 and, finally 6 months follow-up. Parasitological Trypanosoma rangeli and/or T. cruzi infections were investigated in two houses with high level of infestation by R. ecuadoriensis. 16.9% of the 207 households investigated by an initial active manual method were infested with R. ecuadoriensis. The proportion of infested houses fluctuated from 6.2 to 55.5% amongst the 19 localities investigated. T. rangeli natural infection was detected in R. ecuadoriensis specimens collected in two households. Parasite rates in the bugs ranged from 16.6 to 21.7% respectively. The most striking fact was an average rate of salivary gland infection ranging from 7.4 to 8.3%. At the end of the sixth month period, a cumulative incidence of 31.4% of positive GN boxes against 15.9% for paper sheets was recorded. All three methods combined detected domestic infestation in 129 (62.3%) of the 207 houses studied in the 19 localities. The range of houses infested varies from 6.7% to 92.9%. In areas with low bug density infestation rates, the methodology experienced in our studies, seems to be the best choice for investigations on domestic R. ecuadoriensis populations.

Epidemiology of American trypanosomiasis in northern Peru

“…cruzi in the human population may exceed 20%, indicating that Tri. carrioni is a highly efficient vector that, at least in northern Peru, represents a serious danger to human health (Cuba Cuba et al, 2003).…”

Field ecology of sylvatic Rhodnius populations (Heteroptera, Triatominae): risk factors for palm tree infestation in western Ecuador

“…Abad‐Franch et al. 2001; Cuba Cuba et al. 2002, 2003; Abad‐Franch 2003; Abad‐Franch & Aguilar 2003; Grijalva et al.…”

Intrusive versus domiciliated triatomines and the challenge of adapting vector control practices against Chagas disease

“…The species was initially described infesting and colonising domiciles in Peru and Ecuador and this was quickly extended to the peridomestic habitat and R. ecuadoriensis was labelled as a synanthropic species ( Abad-Franch et al. 2002 , Cuba Cuba et al 2002 , 2003 , Grijalva et al. 2005 ), in the sense that it was domiciliated/domesticated.…”