@article{fdi:010054408,
  title = {{E}cological factors related to the widespread distribution of sylvatic {R}hodnius ecuadoriensis populations in southern {E}cuador},
  author = {{G}rijalva, {M}.{J}. and {S}uarez-{D}avalos, {V}. and {V}illacis, {A}.{G}. and {O}cana-{M}ayorga, {S}. and {D}angles, {O}livier},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {C}hagas disease transmission risk is a function of the presence of triatomines in domestic habitats. {R}hodnius ecuadoriensis is one of the main vectors implicated in transmission of {T}rypanosoma cruzi in {E}cuador. {T}his triatomine species is present in domestic, peridomestic and sylvatic habitats in the country. {T}o determine the distribution of sylvatic populations of {R}. ecuadoriensis and the factors related to this distribution, triatomine searches were conducted between 2005 and 2009 in southern {E}cuador. {M}ethods: {M}anual triatomine searches were conducted by skilled bug collectors in 23 communities. {S}ylvatic searched sites were selected by a) directed sampling, where microhabitats were selected by the searchers and b) random sampling, where sampling points where randomly generated. {D}omiciliary triatomine searches were conducted using the one man-hour method. {N}atural trypanosome infection was determined by microscopic examination and {PCR}. {G}eneralized linear models were used to test the effect of environmental factors on the presence of sylvatic triatomines. {R}esults: {I}n total, 1,923 sylvatic individuals were collected representing a sampling effort of 751 man-hours. {C}ollected sylvatic triatomines were associated with mammal and bird nests. {T}he 1,219 sampled nests presented an infestation index of 11.9%, a crowding of 13 bugs per infested nest, and a colonization of 80% of the nests. {T}riatomine abundance was significantly higher in squirrel ({S}ciurus stramineus) nests located above five meters from ground level and close to the houses. {I}n addition, 8.5% of the 820 examined houses in the same localities were infested with triatomines. {T}here was a significant correlation between {R}. ecuadoriensis infestation rates found in sylvatic and synanthropic environments within communities (p = 0.012). {P}arasitological analysis revealed that 64.7% and 15.7% of the sylvatic bugs examined (n = 300) were infected with {T}rypanosoma cruzi and {T}. rangeli respectively, and 8% of the bugs presented mixed infections. {C}onclusions: {T}he wide distribution of sylvatic {R}. ecuadoriensis populations may jeopardize the effectiveness of control campaigns conducted to eliminate domestic populations of this species. {A}lso, the high {T}. cruzi infection rates found in sylvatic {R}. ecuadoriensis populations in southern {E}cuador could constitute a risk for house reinfestation and persistent long-term {C}hagas disease transmission in the region.},
  keywords = {{R}hodnius ecuadoriensis ; sylvatic triatomines ; {E}cuador ; {C}hagas disease ; {EQUATEUR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}arasites and {V}ectors},
  volume = {5},
  numero = {},
  pages = {17},
  ISSN = {1756-3305},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1186/1756-3305-5-17},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010054408},
}