Implementation science: Epidemiology and feeding profiles of the Chagas vector Triatoma dimidiata prior to Ecohealth intervention for three locations in Central America

Abstract

The Ecohealth strategy is a multidisciplinary data-driven approach used to improve the quality of people's lives in Chagas disease endemic areas, such as regions of Central America. Chagas is a vector-borne disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Central America, the main vector is Triatoma dimidiata. Because successful implementation of the Ecohealth approach reduced home infestation in Jutiapa department, Guatemala, it was scaled-up to three localities, one in each of three Central American countries (Texistepeque,

Infestation dynamics of Triatoma dimidiata in highly deforested tropical dry forest regions of Guatemala

“… 9 , 14 , 15 , 28 Additionally, it has been documented that mitigating these risk factors decreases infestation and colonisation by T. dimidiate. 15 , 21 , 28 The most important variable was cracks in the walls, which provide hiding places for the vectors, and where 80% of the vectors were found in this study. This finding supports that adobe or bajareque construction was not the driving factor, but rather associated variables such as wall cracks and dirt floor are.…”

“…Domiciliary infestation risk - While the personnel of MSPAS carried out the entomological survey at each house, personnel of the Applied Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory (LENAP) carried out a Capacities, Aptitudes and Practices (CAP) survey. 21 For each surveyed household, socioeconomical, capacities, knowledge and customs information related to Chagas disease and T. dimidiata infestation was collected. A copy of the survey is included as Supplementary data.…”

“…Focusing on the village with highest infestation, Anonito, we modelled house infestation risk using variables from the CAP survey based on work by Bustamante et al 9 , 21 from a similar environment in Guatemala. Variables included were: cracks in walls constructed from rustic material; vector presence or sign of vector presence (exuvia or faeces); domestic animals in the domicile; chickens in the domicile; firewood in the domicile; construction material outside the house; house older than six years; accumulated objects inside the house; and dirt floor.…”

Integrated vector control of Chagas disease in Guatemala: a case of social innovation in health

“…The initiative began in four villages [8] and was later scaled up to more than 17 villages in three different countries with diverse ecosystems and ethnic populations [24,25]. Scaling up was shown to be possible in diverse epidemiological conditions [25].…”

“…The initiative began in four villages [8] and was later scaled up to more than 17 villages in three different countries with diverse ecosystems and ethnic populations [24,25]. Scaling up was shown to be possible in diverse epidemiological conditions [25]. Including activities such as native tree nurseries and the technical management of stingless bees was easier in communities once they saw the value of those activities, illustrating the importance of taking into account contextual and socio-cultural characteristics when implementing an initiative as a social innovation in health.…”