Occurrence of triatomines in public spaces: An atypical case in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Background: Triatomines infest atypical public spaces in the Western Amazon. Methods: Frequent visitors to these spaces captured the insects in the state of Acre, Brazil (Rio Branco and Cruzeiro do Sul). Results: Six insects were found in a penitentiary, a church, a school, a university, a hospital, and a health center. Five of the insects were adults (three positive for Trypanosoma cruzi ) and one was a nymph. Conclusions: This is the first report of triatomine occurrence in schools or churches. These data are important for implementing surveillance strategies and alerting individuals about possible changes in Chagas disease transmission dynamics.