Systematic Review of Impacts of Educational Interventions to Control Breeding Sites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes.

Community participation is a critical element in the management of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus breeding sites. Many educational interventions have been conducted to encourage prevention and elimination of breeding sites among different community actors, such as government-run programs for vector surveillance aimed at preventing and eliminating breeding sites at the household level within a community. Getting people involved in prevention and elimination of vector breeding sites in their communities requires communication and social mobilization strategies to promote and reinforce those prevention actions that, in turn, should be effective from the entomological standpoint.

Ecomorphological variation of the Triatoma guasayana wing shape in semi-arid Chaco region.

Triatoma guasayana (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), considered a secondary vector of Chagas disease, invades rural dwellings through flight dispersal during the warm season in semi-arid Chaco of Argentina. The objective of this study was to define and compare morphometrics features in the relative body size and wing shape of T. guasayana related to temperature and rainfall between spring, summer and end of summer.

Triatominae of the semi-arid Chaco in central Argentina.

The epidemiological scenario in central Argentinian Chaco region shows persistence of Triatoma infestans domestic populations in endemic areas, with control interventions historically affected by the economic instability of the region. Considering this situation, we aimed to (i) update the information regarding to the diversity of triatomines present in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic environments in departments historically endemic of the Chaco region, (ii) to report the occurrence of secondary vectors of Chagas disease invading domestic environments and (iii) to discuss the possible sources of dispersal of these sylvatic species towards anthropic habitats. Between November 2017 and March 2020, we visited fourteen rural communities of northwest Córdoba province (central Argentina).

Modelling the effect of density vegetation coverage and the occurrence of peridomestic infestation by Triatoma infestans in rural houses of northwest of Córdoba, Argentina.

To better understand the dispersion strategies of Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae, Triatominae), we evaluated the spatial effect of infested peridomicile and density vegetation cover in a historically endemic area for Chagas disease. The study was conducted in rural houses of the northwest of Córdoba province, Argentine, during 2012-2013. Active search of triatomines were made in domicile and peridomicile habitats.

Effect of habitat fragmentation on rural house invasion by sylvatic triatomines: A multiple landscape-scale approach.

After the decrease of the relative importance of Triatoma infestans, a number of studies reported the occurrence of sylvatic triatomines dispersing actively to domestic environments in the dry western Chaco Region of Argentina. Anthropic modification of the landscape is mentioned as one of the main causes of the increase in domicile invasion. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence and frequency of sylvatic triatomines invading rural houses, and to evaluate the effect of habitat fragmentation and other ecological factors on the invasion of rural houses in central Argentina.

Dynamics of feeding and defecation behavior of Triatoma infestans hybrids.

Triatoma platensis is occasionally found coexisting with Triatoma infestans in chicken coops in Argentina. Some authors have reported the presence of hybrid specimens of both species in chicken coops and other peridomestic habitats. Given the coexistence of T.

Characterization of melanic and non-melanic forms in domestic and peridomestic populations of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Background: Melanic (dark) morphs have been barely reported in peridomestic and sylvatic conditions for Triatoma infestans, the most important vector of Chagas disease in the Southern Cone of South America. Adults with dark and small yellow markings on the connexivum were collected after manual searches conducted by technical personnel in 62 domiciliary units in Cruz del Eje, Córdoba Province, Argentina. The last community-wide insecticide spraying campaign before the study had been conducted three years earlier.

Morphological and Genetic Differentiation within the Southernmost Vector of Chagas Disease: Triatoma patagonica (Hemiptera - Reduviidae).

The epidemiological importance of Chagas disease vectors largely depends on their spreading ability and adaptation to domestic habitats. Triatoma patagonica is a secondary vector of Chagas disease endemic of Argentina, and it has been found colonizing domiciles and most commonly peridomiciliary structures in several Argentine provinces and morphological variation along its distribution range have been described. To asses if population differentiation represents geographic variants or true biological species, multiple genetic and phenotypic approaches and laboratory cross-breeding were performed in T.

Evidence of selection on phenotypic plasticity and cost of plasticity in response to host-feeding sources in the major Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans.

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a genotype to display alternative phenotypes in different environments. Understanding how plasticity evolves and the factors that favor and constrain its evolution have attracted great interest. We investigated whether selection on phenotypic plasticity and costs of plasticity affect head and wing morphology in response to host-feeding sources in the major Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans.

Effect of feeding frequency on the reproductive efficiency of two species of Triatoma with different epidemiological importance.

Introduction: In Triatominae, reproductive efficiency is an important factor influencing population dynamics, and a useful parameter in measuring a species' epidemiological significance as a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). The reproductive efficiency of triatomines is affected by food availability; hence, we measured and compared the effects of feeding frequency on the reproductive parameters of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) and Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934), and the effects of starvation on T. patagonica.

Phenotypic plasticity in response to food source in Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae: Triatominae).

In the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, vector transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is still a severe problem because, among other causes, houses are reinfested with Triatoma infestans, the main vector of T. cruzi in southern South America. A better understanding of adaptation and evolution of T.

Effects of blood meal source on food resource use and reproduction in Triatoma patagonica Del Ponte (Hemiptera, Reduviidae).

Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) (Hemiptera-Reduviidae) is a peridomestic vector of Chagas disease that has been frequently found colonizing peridomestic structures in several localities in Argentina. Studying relationships between feeding and reproductive factors is important because these traits regulate population density and define vectorial capacity. Since T.

Changes related to gender, geographic population and habitat in the antennal phenotype of Triatoma patagonica Del Ponte, 1929 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Triatomines undergo morphological changes as an adaptive response to different habitats (wild, peridomestic, domestic, laboratory). The characterization of the antennal phenotype provides information on intraspecific variation caused by geographical origin and/or habitat. Triatoma patagonica Del Ponte, 1929 is known to occur in peridomiciles of rural areas in Argentina, where it also invades non-colonized dwellings.

Influence of the quality and quantity of blood ingested on reproductive parameters and life-span in Triatoma infestans (Klug).

In Triatominae, female fecundity and fertility may be affected by age, adult nutritional status (i.e., blood meal source and amount of blood ingested) and number of matings.

Comparison of feeding and defecation patterns between fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) and Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934) under laboratory conditions.

Among the vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma patagonica is a species in the process of adaptation to the human environment. However, its vector competence is not well known. This study had the aim of evaluating and comparing feeding and defecation patterns among fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica and Triatoma infestans that were fed ad libitum.

[Chagas disease in Argentina: tools for schoolchildren to exercise vector surveillance and identify household risk factors].

The objective of this paper was to validate tools for schoolchildren to help control Chagas disease vectors in their own homes. Two types of tables were produced, one reporting on the presence of risk factors in residences and the other to record the presence of triatomines. The materials were tested in the field by 100 students from an endemic area in Argentina and validated by technical personnel.

Feeding and defaecation behaviour of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Among the vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma patagonica is a species in the process of adaptation to the human environment being recently registered in urban and suburban zones. However, its importance as a vector of Chagas disease is unknown. The aim of this work was to evaluate two aspects of vectorial competence: the feeding behaviour and the defaecation pattern.