High household infestation rates by synanthropic vectors of Chagas disease in southern Ecuador.
Entomological surveys were conducted in five rural communities (138 domiciliary units [DUs]) in the southern Andes of Ecuador. Adobe walls and ceramic tile roofs were predominant construction materials. A 35% house infestation rate with Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) (0.7%), Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (Champion, 1899) (0.7%), Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Lent & León, 1958) (27%), and/or Triatoma carrioni (Larrousse, 1926) (7%) was found. Adults and nymphs of R. ecuadoriensis and T. carrioni were found in intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary areas. Breeding triatomine colonies were present in 85% of infested DUs, and the average insect crowding was 52+/-113 triatomine bugs per infested house. T. cruzi-like organisms were found by microscopic examination in the feces or hindgut but not the salivary glands of 4% of examined R. ecuadoriensis and 12% T. carrioni. Serological tests detected a general anti-T. cruzi antibody seroprevalence of 3.9% (n = 1136). Only 2% of individuals had heard of Chagas disease, and although triatomines were reported as a major nuisance by the population they were not considered vectors of disease. Additional baseline field research is needed for the design and implementation of a Chagas disease control program in the region.
Grijalva
M J
MJ
Tropical Disease Institute, Biomedical Sciences Department, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH 45701, USA.
Palomeque-Rodríguez
F S
FS
Costales
J A
JA
Davila
S
S
Arcos-Teran
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004484:Ecuador; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology; D010203:Panstrongylus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D011156:Population Density; D020064:Reduviidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D012424:Rural Population; D014224:Triatoma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan