title: Infestation by triatomine bugs in indigenous communities of Valledupar, Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To calculate triatomine infestation indices in indigenous communities in Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study was carried out in 19 communities in Valledupar Municipality, Cesar Department, Colombia. During June to December, 2007, triatromine bugs were collected from their resting places in households. Taxonomic identification was made according to the keys by Lent & Wygodzinsky. An infection process in animal model and isozyme analysis of triatomine feces were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rhodnius prolixus showed a density index of 154.7%, for Triatoma dimidiata was 102.45%, T. maculata 109.25% and Panstrogylus geniculatus 0.3%. The mean infestation index was 40.54%, and mean Trypanosoma infection index was 9.4%. Of five hemocultures positive for T. cruzi, three were enzimatically identified as T. cruzi group I. Biopsies revealed few pathologic characteristics of infective process with these strains isolated from domiciliary triatomine bugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high triatomine infestation indices in households and the T. cruzi infection index are evidence of active transmission of Chagas disease. The situation merits a vector control program and serological survey of the population at risk. The genetic characterization of T. cruzi strains as group I agrees with other findings on strains in this region of Colombia.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: Marleny
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montilla
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.forename: Johana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colorado
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003105:Colombia; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014225:Triatominae / Q000145:classification* / Q000469:parasitology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification*