Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the central coast of the Ecuador is considered endemic for Chagas disease, few studies have focused on determining the risk of transmission in this region. In this study we describe the triatomine household infestation in Manabí province (Central Coast region), determine the rate of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and study the risk factors associated with infestation by Rhodnius ecuadoriensis.Methodology/Principal findingsAn entomological survey found three triatomine species (Rhodnius ecuadoriensis, Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus and P. howardi) infesting domiciles in 47.4% of the 78 communities visited (total infestation rate of 4.5%). Four percent of domiciles were infested, and nymphs were observed in 77% of those domiciles. The three species were found in altitudes below 500 masl and in all ecological zones except cloud forest. Within the domicile, we found the three species mostly in bedrooms. Rhodnius ecuadoriensis and P. rufotuberculatus were abundant in bird nests, including chicken coops and P. howardi associated with rats in piles of bricks, in the peridomicile. Triatomine infestation was characterized by high rates of colonization, especially in peridomicile. Flagelates infection was detected in only 12% of the samples by microscopy and Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 42% of the examined triatomines by PCR (n = 372). The most important risk factors for house infestation by R. ecuadoriensis were ecological zone (w = 0.99) and presence of chickens (w = 0.96). Determinants of secondary importance were reporting no insecticide applications over the last twelve months (w = 0.86) and dirt floor (w = 0.70). On the other hand, wood as wall material was a protective factor (w = 0.85).Conclusion/SignificanceAccording the results, approximately 571,000 people would be at high risk for T. cruzi infection in Manabí province. A multidisciplinary approximation and the adhesion to a periodic integrated vector management (IVM) program are essential to guarantee sustainable preventive and control strategies for Chagas disease in this region.
Highlights
Chagas disease has been recognized as one of the world’s 13 most neglected tropical diseases and continues to be an important social and economic problem in many Latin American countries[1]
In this study we describe the triatomine household infestation in Manabı province (Central Coast region), determine the rate of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and study the risk factors associated with infestation by Rhodnius ecuadoriensis
Chagas disease is an important public health problem in most of Latin America, including Ecuador. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which in endemic areas is transmitted mainly by the feces of insects called triatomines
Summary
Chagas disease has been recognized as one of the world’s 13 most neglected tropical diseases and continues to be an important social and economic problem in many Latin American countries[1]. In Ecuador, it is estimated that approximately 200,000 people (1.4%) are affected by this disease and 29.0% are at risk of infection[2]. Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is considered one of the most important vector species in Ecuador due to its wide geographic distribution and has been reported along the central coastal region, through southern Ecuador to northern Peru [3,5,6]. This species has the ability to invade domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic habitats and show high infection rates with the parasite T. cruzi [7,8]. Sylvatic populations have been found in association with squirrel nests (Sciurus nebouxii, previously known as Sciurus stramineus) [7,9,10, 31], the endemic palm Phytelephas aequatorialis [3] and other plant species [9]
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