The eco-epidemiology of domestic Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rural communities of the humid Chaco of Argentina.

CARDINAL MV; OROZCO MM; ENRIQUEZ GF,; CEBALLOS LA,; GASPE MS; ALVARADO-OTEGUI JA,,; GUREVITZ JM; KITRON U; GURTLER RE

Congreso; 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,; 2012

The eco-epidemiology of the domestic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in the humid Chaco region has seldom been investigated. We assessed the household distribution of bug, dog and cat infection between local ethnic groups (Tobas and Creoles) to investigate differences in transmission risks between them; tested the role of domestic dogs and cats as reservoir hosts, and identified transmission risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of house infestation with Triatoma infestans and T. cruzi infection in bugs, dogs and cats in a well-defined rural area in northeastern Argentina including 323 households. Bug infection prevalence among 1,869 bugs examined was highest in domiciles (43%) and in storerooms or kitchens (24%), and was marginal elsewhere (