Geographical characterization of the triatomine infestations in north–central Guatemala

Abstract

In an entomological study in 2002, the degree of domestic and peridomestic infestation with triatomine bugs and the geographical distribution of such infestations were investigated in north-central Guatemala. The survey team searched for triatomines in houses constructed with mud walls or thatched roofs, in villages suspected of being infested. The level of infestation observed was lower than that seen in the same area and in eastern Guatemala, in a preliminary survey, 3 years earlier. Most of the infestations detected were of Triatoma dimidiata but even this species was found in <7% of the houses investigated. Infestations with Rhodnius prolixus or other potential vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi were much rarer. The generally low levels of infestation make the elimination of R. prolixus and the reduction of the domestic population of Tri. dimidiata feasible in the study area. The southern part of the study area had higher levels of domestic infestation and colonization than the north, and peridomestic infestation was highest in the south-west. Given such geographical variation in the pattern of infestation, it would seem wise to stratify the study region into areas of high, moderate and low-risk of human-triatomine contact, so that appropriate vector-control strategies can be targeted at the worst-affected areas. Regular entomological surveillance, ideally with community participation, is recommended. Analysis of the relationship between the geographical patterns of infestation and factors such as vegetation, altitude and vector migration would be useful.

Community-Based Sampling Methods for Surveillance of the Chagas Disease Vector,Triatoma dimidiata(Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

“…Sensor boxes and collection by householders, a combination of passive and active sampling, are cost effective, socially acceptable, and easily adaptable to community-based programs (Wisnivesky-Colli et al 1987, Chuit et al 1992, Gü rtler et al 1995, 1999. Furthermore, when infestation indices are low, such as they are after intervention, surveillance of triatomines is difÞcult, and community-based techniques often become more sensitive than inspections by trained personnel (Nakagawa et al 2005). This study found that over a sampling period of 3Ð 4 wk, the sensitivity of GN sensor boxes for sampling T. dimidiata was low and the sensitivity of manual inspection was high.…”

Life cycle of Triatoma ryckmani (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the laboratory, feeding patterns in nature and experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

“…In spite of the fact that T. ryckmani has not been found infected with T. cruzi under natural conditions (Marroquín et al 2004a, Monroy et al 2004, Marín et al 2006, the species is able to colonize chicken coops, sometimes in elevated numbers, up to 369 in a single coop (Nakagawa et al 2005). It also has been found colonizing houses, in smaller quantities, and adults are also found visiting houses in domestic and peridomestic environments, both in Nicaragua and Guatemala (Monroy et al 2004, Nakagawa et al 2005, Marín et al 2006.…”

“…It also has been found colonizing houses, in smaller quantities, and adults are also found visiting houses in domestic and peridomestic environments, both in Nicaragua and Guatemala (Monroy et al 2004, Nakagawa et al 2005, Marín et al 2006. Now that we know that this species becomes easily infected with T. cruzi in the laboratory, its natural infection could be predicted and its epidemiological role in the transmission of Chagas disease in Central American countries needs to be assessed.…”

Sleeping habits affect access to host by Chagas disease vector Triatoma dimidiata

“…Alternative control intervention strategies, based on the Ecohealth principles, have recently been implemented at different pilot scales [15, 16, 25] and are currently giving promising results (Waleckx et al, unpublished data). While T. dimidiata generally does not establish colonies inside human dwellings in the Yucatán Peninsula, in other parts of its geographical distribution, such as in Guatemala, populations are well domiciliated, as evidenced by bug collections throughout the country showing high infestation and colonization indexes [10, 26]. …”