Abstract

PARRA-HENAO, GABRIEL; ANGULO, VÍCTOR; JARAMILLO, NICOLÁS  and  RESTREPO I, MARCOS. Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia: Epidemiological, entomological and distributional aspects. CES Med. [online]. 2009, vol.23, n.1, pp.17-26. ISSN 0120-8705.

Objective: To describe the entomological indexes and epidemiological importance of triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) of the north and east slope of Santa Marta's Sierra Nevada, Colombia. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Sampling was done in 196 indigenous huts of seven towns. Triatomines collections were done inside houses and in peridomestic areas. Results: A total of 207 triatomines belonging to five species: Triatoma maculata, Panstrongylus geniculatus, Rhodnius prolixus. T. dimidiata and R. pallescens, was collected. R. prolixus and T. dimidiata was the species with the most important entomological indexes of house infestation, colonization, dispersion and infection predominating in all collections, and are considered the most epidemiological important species in the area. 82 % of all triatomine species were collected inside houses. Additionally, geographical distribution of R. pallescens is extended. Conclusions: Present reports plus high prevalence found in the zone allow us to conclude that Santa Martas' Sierra Nevada is of high risk for Chaga's disease transmission.

Keywords : Trypanosoma cruzi; Triatominae; Chagas disease; Colombia.

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