Factors associated with the presence of triatomines in rural areas of south Argentine Chaco

Abstract

Introduction: The domestic and peridomestic presence of Triatoma infestans depends on several factors, such as human behavior, vector behavior, ecology, and the environment. Methods: This work was conducted in 139 domiciliary units, where triatomines were captured and risk factors in domiciles and peridomicilies were recorded. Household dwellers were interviewed to obtain information about practices regarding this disease and entomological indicators were calculated. Results: Infestation indices were 59.7% for house compounds, 4.3% for domestic areas and 58.3% for the peridomestic areas. Intradomicile infestation was significantly associated with housing characteristics. The presence of chicken coops in peridomicilies was associated with an increased risk of infestation. Of the respondents, 80% did not recognize the importance of the peridomiciliary structures for triatomine control and had infested peridomicilies. Conclusions: The results show the importance of peridomiciles as refuge sites for Triatominae bugs; however, household dwellers do not perceive peridomiciles as areas that favor the presence of vectors. Actions for raising awareness about factors that favor the presence of triatomines are needed to improve the conditions of peridomiciliary environments.

Effect of habitat fragmentation on rural house invasion by sylvatic triatomines: A multiple landscape-scale approach

“…Previous studies carried out in the same region, during 1962 and 1984, had reported three sylvatic species -T. breyeri, T. guasayana and T. eratirusyformis-, invading houses but without colonizing them [56]. A more recent study in the same area also reported the presence of T. guasayana and T. garciabesi in peridomicile structures [57].…”

Modelling the effect of density vegetation coverage and the occurrence of peridomestic infestation by Triatoma infestans in rural houses of northwest of Córdoba, Argentina

“…Entomological data recorded in this study shows high peridomestic infestation (43.9 %) and very low domestic infestation (1.5 %) by T. infestans in rural houses of the northwest of Córdoba Province during 2012-2013. Previous reports published within the same area, pointed out that low domestic infestation was related with the improvement of housing construction and that the risk of peridomestic infestation was strongly associated with the presence of chicken coops (Crocco et al 2019). Since rural houses were visited after a three year-period without chemical control, the levels of peridomestic infestation recorded supports the fact that without a sustainable control campaign the populations of T. infestans remain far from the elimination objectives proposed by the Southern Cone Initiative (Segura 2002).…”

“…The northwest region of Córdoba Province, located in the south of the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, shows a heterogeneous scenario of T. cruzi transmission related with differences in vector control interventions, land use changes and socioeconomic factors in the last decades (Moreno et al 2010(Moreno et al , 2012. Previous reports on the area (Crocco et al 2019), showed a high peridomiciliar infestation, strongly associated with the presence of chicken coops. This peridomestic habitat is the most frequent in the area and the most vulnerable to infestation because the materials of construction (sticks, wood, or cardboard) provide excellent refuge sites for triatomines.…”

Housing Risk Factors of Four Tropical Neglected Diseases: A Brief Review of the Recent Literature

“…Crocco et al [ 24 ] in their cross-sectional survey on risk factors associated with the presence of triatomines in rural areas of south Argentina report the following: Houses with unplastered walls had a 20.7 times greater risk of infestation ( p < 0.001) than those with uncracked plastered walls; similarly houses with unplastered concrete or brick, or thatched roofs had a 7.2 times greater risk of infestation than houses with plastered roofs ( p < 0.001). …”