Risk factors for Trypanosoma cruzi human infection in Barinas State, Venezuela.

This study attempted to quantify the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in children less than 15 years of age in Barinas State, Venezuela and investigate risk factors for infection. Among 3,296 children, 4 (0.12%) were seropositive. The mother of one child also was also seropositive, which suggested that congenital transmission is a possible risk factor for Chagas disease in this area. Seroprevalence among the dwellers of 10 localities was 3.3%. Rhodnius prolixus was detected in 7 localities and in 8% of 125 dwellings. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that infection was associated with age, a dirt floor, and distance from houses to palm trees. The risk of infection is increased by the presence of adventitious sylvatic R. prolixus and transient or residual colonies. Insecticide spraying does not seem justified in this scenario, a finding that was also observed in other Latin American countries. New methods are therefore needed for Chagas disease control programs.

Morphometric evidence for a possible role of Rhodnius prolixus from palm trees in house re-infestation in the State of Barinas (Venezuela).

The main vector of Chagas disease in Venezuela is Rhodnius prolixus. Specimens of Rhodnius sp., identified elsewhere as R. prolixus by molecular tools, were collected in Barinas State (Venezuela) before insecticide application, and compared by morphometric techniques with post-spraying, re-infesting insects after control. Geometric morphometry was applied, allowing separate analyses of shape and size. The idea of a single species sharing silvatic and domestic/peri-domestic ecotopes was supported, suggesting new evolutionary scenarios for the controversial R. prolixus origins. The same data allowed to understand the possible mechanisms of villages re-infestation after a control campaign, either recolonization by local recovery of survivors or re-infestation by external migrants. Both mechanisms were apparent. Although shape properties could distinguish very close subpopulations such as insects from houses and insects from peri-domestic shelters, they were unable to identify the insects from palm trees as a distinct subpopulation. This strongly suggested that human environment could receive immigrants from palm trees. The pattern of size variation supported the hypothesis of a one-way exchange from silvatic to human environments, but did not support the reverse movement. Thus, morphometric data indicated that a silvatic population of the local vector is probably responsible for re-infesting villages after insecticide application, and they also pointed to the existence of re-infestation by local recovery of survivors. According to this interpretation, new epidemiological scenarios must be considered to improve Chagas disease control in Venezuela.

[Two new populations of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga & Feliciangeli (Diptera: Phlebotominae) vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Venezuela]. / Dos nuevas poblaciones de Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga y Feliciangeli (Diptera: Phlebotominae) vector de leishmaniasis visceral en Venezuela.

Two new populations of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga & Feliciangeli, species belonging to the Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) complex, are reported in Venezuela on diagnostic isoenzymes.

Dos nuevas poblaciones de Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga y Feliciangeli (Diptera: Phlebotominae) vector de leishmaniasis visceral en Venezuela / Two new populations of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga & Feliciangeli (Diptera: Phlebotominae) vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Venezuela

Dos nuevas poblaciones de Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga & Feliciangeli, especie del complejo Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), son registradas para Venezuela con base en dos enzimas diagnostico, Adenilato quinasa y Hexoquinasa.

Two new populations of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga & Feliciangeli, species belonging to the Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) complex, are reported in Venezuela on diagnostic isoenzymes.

Hallazgo de huevos de Rhodnius prolixus parasitados por microhimenópteros en un hábitat silvestre, en Venezuela / Finding of eggs of Rhodnius prolixus parasitized by microhymenoptera in a silvatic habitat in Venezuela

En esta nota se reporta el hallazgo de huevos de Rhodnius prolixus naturalmente parasitados por dos especies de microhimenopteros. Los huevos estaban adheridos a la penca de una palma (Attalaea butyracea). Tres mostraron signos de parasitismo por Telenomus costalimai, mientras que de los otros emergieron Ooencyrtus trinidadensis var. venatorius. Se resumen trabajos anteriores sobre la bionomía y el potencial de estos parasitoides como agentes de control biológico de R. prolixus

Comparación de métodos de captura intradoméstica de triatominos vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas en Venezuela / Comparison of methods of intradomestic capture of Chagas disease vectors in Venezuela

La estratificación de riesgo para priorizar las acciones de control en función de optimización de recursos, es de gran importancia dentro de las actividades de vigilancia epidemiológica para el control de la Enfermedad de Chagas. Para esto es necesario contar con un método para la detección de la infestación intradomiciliaria por triatominos vectores, que sea de alta sensibilidad, especialmente encondiciones de baja densidad. En este estudio se compararon los resultados obtenidos con 5 métodos de capturas de vectores, 2 de búsqueda pasiva: caja Gómez-Nuñez y papel A4 Bond colocados en el dormitorio principal de las casas, 2 de búsqueda activa por personal técnico especializado: captura directa y captura con un excitante (cypermetrina+tetrametrina) durante ½ hora y por último la recolección efectuada durante un mes por los habitantes, oportunamente entrenados. El estudio se realizó en 11 localidades y 200 casas del Estado Portuguesa y 29 localidades y 350 casas del Estado Barinas. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los resultados obtenidos con los diferentes métodos en los dos estados. Sobre el total de las 550 casas exploradas, 132 fueron positivas: en 131 (99,2%) la presencia de triatominos fue detectada por lo habitantes vs. 5,3% por búsqueda activa; 3,38 por la caja Gómez-Nuñez; 3,03% por búsqueda con excitante y 0 por ciento por la hoja de papel. Se colectaron en total 5 especies y 563 individuos. Rhodnius prolixus fue la especie predominante seguido por Triatoma maculata, Panstrongylus geniculatus y R. pictipes.