Demographic and Dispersal Constraints for Domestic Infestation by Non-Domicilated Chagas Disease Vectors in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

GOURBIÈRE, S.; DUMONTEIL, E.; RABINOVICH, J. E.; MINKOUE, R.; MENU, F.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE

Año: 2008 vol. 78 p. 133 - 139

0002-9637

Abstract. Chagas disease is one of the most important diseases in Latin America. Insecticides have been sprayed tocontrol domiciliated vectors. However, some triatomine species are not strictly domiciliated, and the transmission riskposed by immigrants is identified as a major challenge. The design of new control strategies requires disentangling theimportance of demography and immigration in vector occurrence inside houses. Using a population dynamics model, weconfirmed that dispersal can explain satisfactorily the domestic abundance of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatan, Mexico. Asurprisingly low fecundity was also required (no more than one to two female offspring per female per trimester). Awide range of survival probabilities was possible, although the best fit was obtained for a very low immature survival(
0.01/trimester). Our model predicted that domestic populations are not sustainable, and up to 90% of the individualsfound in houses are immigrants. We discuss the potential of different strategies to control the transmission of Chagasdisease by non-domiciliated vectors.