Current situation of Chagas disease vectors (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 2021-01, Vol.63, p.1-8
• Main Authors: Bianchi, Tanise Freitas, Jeske, Sabrina, Grala, Ana Paula da Paz, Leon, Italo Ferreira de, Bedin, Cleonara, Mello, Fernanda de, Silva, Guilherme Carlos Castilhos da, Villela, Marcos Marreiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chagas disease; Health surveillance; Households; Infections; Original; Panstrongylus tupynambai; Protozoa; Rio Grande do Sul; Statistical analysis; Triatoma rubrovaria; Tropical diseases; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Trypanosoma cruzi; Vector control; Vectors (Biology)
• ISSN: 1678-9946; 0036-4665; 1678-9946
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946202163047

Chagas disease (CD) has been considered endemic in the South of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. This study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi vectors based on the main species captured in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State from 2008 to 2019. The study area comprised counties that belong to the 3 rd Regional Health Coordination (RHC) and to the 7 th RHC, whose headquarters are in Pelotas and Bage, respectively. The study was based on secondary data provided by the partnership between the Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State (UFPel-RS) and the State Health Surveillance Center in RS (SCHS-RS). One thousand and four hundred triatomines were captured in the area supervised by the 3 rd RHC, mainly in Cangucu (37.7%), Piratini (22.4%) and Pinheiro Machado (15.1%), while, in the area supervised by the 7 th RHC, the largest number of triatomines was captured in Lavras do Sul (64.15%). In both areas, Triatoma rubrovaria (90.6%) and Panstrongylus tupynambai (7.4%) were the most common species. Most were captured inside households but T. cruzi -positive insects were not found in the period under study. The results of this study show that, in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State, there is still a high rate of triatomine household invasion and dispersal, mainly by T. rubrovaria . Thus, the entomological surveillance should be maintained with the participation of the population and further studies should be deepened in the area.