Indian Journal of Veterinary Research (The)

The American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease is a zoonotic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), transmitted by triatominehematophagous arthropods from the Reduvidaefamily and Hemiptera order commonly known as bedbug. The southern region of the State of Mexico is considered an endemic area of Chagas disease, however entomological indicators for triatomines have not been characterized; therefore the objective of the present study was to estimate these indicators. During the period 2006–2014, 356triatomine samples were collected in 16 municipalities in the southern part of the State of Mexico. The entomological indicators were obtained through the formulas established in the Guide for Sampling in activities of vector control and surveillance of Chagas disease and in the Guide of Entomological Surveillance and Control of Chagas of WHO. The study reports three species of T. cruzi transmitter triatomines: Meccuspallidipennis, Triatomadimidiata and Triatomabarberi. The species with the greatest geographical distribution was M. pallidipennis, followed by T. dimidiata. Interestingly both species were found even at altitudes above 2000 MASL. A dispersion rate of 7.1% was found. The rate of infestation was 33.3%, the rate of colonization was 16.6%, the natural infection rate was 26.9%, the density index was 0.67%, and the overcrowding rate was 2.01%. A total of 356 triatomines collectedwere confirmed positive to T. cruzi through optical microscopy and PCR. The entomological indicators, together with the prevalence of T. cruzi, indicate that the southern region of the State of Mexico is a high-risk transmission area for Chagas disease.