COLONIZATION OF PALM TREES BY Rhodnius neglectus AND HOUSEHOLD AND INVASION IN AN URBAN AREA, ARAÇATUBA, SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

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.

A new species of Rhodnius from Brazil (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

“…Apart from such cases, which occur more frequently in the northern region of the country, it is worth noting that R. neglectus was found in palm trees (species of Roystonea , Syagrus and Acrocomia ] in the city of Araçatuba, São Paulo, in 2009, as well as in palm trees ( Livistona australis ) located in the central square of the city of Monte Alto, São Paulo, in February 2012 (Rodrigues et al 2014, Carvalho et al 2013, respectively).…”

Integrating evidence, models and maps to enhance Chagas disease vector surveillance

“…Disease control efforts in the past were designed accordingly, to accommodate the characteristics of rural areas. However, Chagas disease is now known to be established in several urban settings, creating a new epidemiological challenge for prevention [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

Entoepidemiology of Chagas disease in the Western region of the State of São Paulo from 2004 to 2008, and cytogenetic analysis in Rhodnius neglectus (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

“…neglectus is important in the enzootic transmission of T. cruzi and T. rangeli (Gurgel-Gonçalves et al, 2004;Gurgel-Gonçalves and Cuba, 2009), and was recently found by different authors to inhabit palm trees in urban areas (Carvalho et al, 2014;Rodrigues et al, 2014). These insects have been observed in 13 Brazilian states, including Bahia, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Piauí, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Tocantins (Gurguel-Gonçalves et al, 2012).…”