Un Sistema de Información Geográfica para el control y vigilancia de Triatoma infestans, vector del Mal de Chagas, en áreas rurales del noroeste argentino.

CECERE MC

Rosario-Santa Fe

Congreso; 11. XX Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología.; 2004

Geographic information system (GIS), satellite imagery, and spatial statistics are innovative tools that are applying on different branch of biology. These tools allow the integration of temporal and spatial dimensions to describe, understand and predict the potential risk of occurrence of arthropod vectors and transmission of pathogens (Kitron, 1998). This modern and multiple approach need to be applied to eco-epidemiological research on Chagas disease in order to provide scientifically-based, improved tactics to control programs of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease. Triatoma infestans is the target of the current Southern Cone elimination program based on the application of pyrethroid insecticides and entomologic surveillance, which has already shown success in Uruguay, Brazil and Chile (TDR News, 2000). In Argentina, this program has achieved a major reduction in the prevalence of infestation and transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, but the elimination of T. infestans during this decade is not anticipated. It is not possible, due to lack of spatial-temporal long term studies, to know the spatial distribution, the speed of spread of T. infestans reinfestation, and the spatial-temporal dynamics of secondary focus from primary sources after insecticide spraying. The general aim of this study was to create a GIS to describe and understand the reinfestation dynamics by T. infestans at spatial and temporal scale after residual insecticide spraying in Amamá, Santiago del Estero, using retrospective data (1992-2000). We seek to detect clustering of bugs within the study area, identify epicenters of infestation (sources for susbsequent reinfestation), and contribute to provide improved tactics to the current control program. The ultimate aims of the study are to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the process of reinfestation by triatomine bugs; to produce risk maps and predictions for reinfestation that may be used by vector control programs to evaluate and prioritize control efforts, and to add a spatial component to a mathematical model of T. cruzi transmission (Cohen and Gürtler, 2002).