Unusual frequency of Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcI and predominance of hybrid lineages in Triatoma infestans before and after control interventions in the Argentinian Chaco.

Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi involves diverse hosts, vectors and parasitic genotypes, in different environments. In recent decades, the distribution of T. cruzi has altered due to urbanization of affected people and vectors.

Slow recovery rates and spatial aggregation of Triatoma infestans populations in an area with high pyrethroid resistance in the Argentine Chaco.

Background: The emergence of pyrethroid resistance has threatened the elimination of Triatoma infestans from the Gran Chaco ecoregion. We investigated the status and spatial distribution of house infestation with T. infestans and its main determinants in Castelli, a municipality of the Argentine Chaco with record levels of triatomine pyrethroid resistance, persistent infestation over 2005-2014, and limited or no control actions over 2015-2020.

Domestic (re)infestation risk with the main vector Triatoma infestans increases with surrounding green vegetation and social vulnerability in the Argentine Chaco.

Background: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is still a public health problem in Latin America and in the Southern Cone countries, where Triatoma infestans is the main vector. We evaluated the relationships among the density of green vegetation around rural houses, sociodemographic characteristics, and domestic (re)infestation with T. infestans while accounting for their spatial dependence in the municipality of Pampa del Indio between 2007 and 2016.

Human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Argentinean Chaco: risk factors and identification of households with infected children for treatment.

Background: Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Cost-effective strategies for large-scale implementation of diagnosis and etiological treatment are urgently needed to comply with NTD control goals. We determined the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and associated risk factors in a well-defined rural population of Pampa del Indio municipality including creole and indigenous (Qom) households and developed two indices to identify houses harboring infected children.