Abstract

FERNANDEZ AURORA, Corazón et al. Entomological control and surveillance of Chagas disease with community participation in el constructor neighbourhood (Tarija, Bolivia). Rev. Vent. Cient. [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.11, pp. 1-9. ISSN 2305-6010.

Controlling Chagas disease (ChD) remains a major public health problem in Latin America. It is estimated that 7.5 million people sufferfrom Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the ChD causative agent. In order to control Triatoma infestans population, spraying with residual insecticides is effective; however, re-infestation of houses that had been already sprayed was frequently observed, especially around housing. In this scenario, the permanent entomological surveillance is essential in order to have houses free of triatomines. The study aimed to establish an entomological surveillance system with community participation by informing, educating and training (IET) families where the intervention was made. But also, through this study, community volunteer leaders were trained in order to become part of Vector's Information Office (PIV). 145 houses were inspected and included in the study, and the presence of triatomines was reported just in ten (infestation index. 6.9%). Six out of this ten presented intradomiciliary infestation, and the remaining four, peridomiciliary infestation. The analysis of triatomine feces did not detect trypanosomes (Trypan/Triatominico index). The chemical spraying activity was performed in nine out of the ten houses in which the vector was observed. The Knowledge, Aptitude and Practice (KAP) survey showed that, before and after the community population training, a substantial improvement regarding knowledge about vector transmission, ChD symptoms, and skills of prevention and disease control took place. It was possible to train 6 PIV volunteer leaders, helping to promote prevention and control actions of vector- borne diseases.

Keywords : Entomological surveillance; community participation; Chagas disease.