Triatoma infestans in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Health Administration Agencies of many municipalities in Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) receive frequent reports on triatomines in houses. The aim of this work was to identify and describe the dispersal foci of Triatoma infes tans in an urban neighborhood of GBA, and contribute to the knowledge of th e epidemiological situation in the region. In June 1998, potentially infest ed places were entomologically evaluated. T. infestans was only detected in a hen building for egg production, which housed approximately 6,000 birds. A total of 2,930 insects were collected. Density was about 9 triatomines/m (2). The proportions of fifth instar nymphs and adults were significantly h igher than those of the other stages (p<0.001). The number of triatomines c ollected largely exceeded the highest domestic infestation found in one hou se from rural endemic areas of Argentina. Though triatomines were negative for Trypanosoma cruzi, they could acquire the parasite by, coming in contac t with infected people living in GBA. Besides, the numerous and widely dist ributed places housing hens and chickens, would favor the settlement of the vector. Together, both facts may constitute a risk of parasitic vectorial transmission. It is recommended to intensify systematic activities of vector search and c ase detection in GBA.