title: [Distribution and ecoepidemiology of the triatomine fauna (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Margarita Island, Bolívar, Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information concerning to triatomine diversity and some eco-epidemiologic aspects on Margarita Island has been recorded only from two of the five counties on the island. Knowledge about species habitat and their natural infection is essential to establish the risk for Chagas disease in endemic areas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The distribution of triatomine insect fauna and its infection with Trypanosoma cruzi was described in order to establish and to stratify the risk of Chagas disease transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each of the 5 counties on Margarita Island were surveyed for triatomid insects inside and outside each dwelling. In the extradomicilary area, searches were conducted in the palms and bird nests located within forests and in pastures near domiciles. Infection with T. cruzi was determined amplifying by PCR the DNA extracted from triatomine feces.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five species of Reduviidae were recovered among the 1,154 triatomines captured in the 5 counties. Triatoma maculata and Rhodnius pallescens showed high infection rates within dwellings and as well as in the peridomestic areas in Mompós and Talaigua Nuevo. On the palm trees, only R. pallescens and Eratyrus cuspidatus were found infected, and only in San Fernando and Margarita. In Cicuco, only R. pallescens was infected. Presence of Triatoma dimidiata was also ascertained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infected triatomines were present in houses and on palm trees in all counties on the island. These observations indicate a potential risk of Chagas across the entire island; furthermore the presence of T. dimidiata, a very efficient Chagas vector, emphasizes the need to establish its epidemiological status on the island.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, BCEI, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. omarcantillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cantillo-Barraza
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Palacio
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mejía-Jaramillo
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calle
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Triana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D014224:Triatoma / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*