Usefulness of Community Participation for the Fine Temporal Monitoring of House Infestation by Non-Domiciliated Triatomines

Abstract

The irregular presence and low abundance of wild triatomines inside domiciles make their detection more difficult than that of domiciled species, so that vector surveillance and evaluation of Chagas disease transmission risk are more challenging. We compared timed manual searches, considered as the gold standard, with community-based collections, for their efficacy at monitoring domestic and peridomestic infestation by non-domiciliated Triatoma dimidiata, and community-based collection was the most sensitive and cost effective. Scaling up community participation permitted investigation of fine temporal variations in infestation by T. dimidiata in over 700 houses. We confirmed a large seasonal infestation during March-July, but weekly and daily collections showed a rather stochastic pattern of bug presence in the houses, even during this period. These data are of key importance for the successful implementation of vector control, and community participation is a method of choice for sustained monitoring of infestation by non-domesticated triatomines.

House Infestation Dynamics and Feeding Sources of Triatoma dimidiata in Central Veracruz, Mexico

“…The observation of nymphal stages all year long clearly indicated that T. dimidiata is able to colonize some houses, as determined before in Veracruz. 5 On the other hand, we also observed important seasonal variations in the abundance of bugs, that are very similar to previous observations in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, 9,10,19 Belize, 11 and Guatemala (Monroy C, personal communication). These data strongly indicate a seasonal infestation by mostly adult bugs attempting to colonize the houses.…”

“…All captured bugs were taken to local rural medical units to be labeled and stored until transported to the laboratory for further analysis. 10 Insects were collected during the years 2006-2008. Entomological indexes defined by the WHO were calculated (infection, % of T. cruzi-infected triatomines; infestation, % of triatominepositive houses, and colonization % of triatomine-positive houses with nymphs).…”

Comparative Field Trial of Alternative Vector Control Strategies for Non-Domiciliated Triatoma dimidiata

“…13 In this region, house infestation occurs on a marked seasonal basis because of the influx of sylvatic and peridomestic insects to the houses. 7,[16][17][18][19] We found that optimum insecticide efficacy required spraying just at the beginning of the house infestation season, even though such application was predicted to be effective only until the following infestation season. 13 Alternatively, insect barriers aimed at reducing bug entry were predicted to provide a reduction in house infestation proportional to exclusion efficacy and would be sustainable for several years.…”

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi Among Mothers and Children in Rural Mayan Communities and Associated Reproductive Outcomes

“…Campaigns for Chagas disease prevention have been shown to generate good community participation. 41,42 Most women in the two communities speak Mayan and have a low education level, indicating the need for tailored health promotion programs administered in their native tongue. Additionally, strategies targeting vector control should be feasible, sustainable, and compatible with their lifestyle.…”