Entomological surveillance with community engagement at Chagas Platform Centers for comprehensive care in the mesothermal valleys of three regions of the endemic area of Triatoma infestans in Bolivia

ABSTRACT

Background: The detection of residual foci inside the houses, or the reinfestation of triatomines is one of the main entomological surveillance challenges. Actions aimed at increasing the probability of vector detection and to detect re-infestation when the density of vector populations is low, is a priority objective for Chagas control programs. Methods: Families belonging to local communities were responsible of triatomine specimens capture, following a strategic methodology based on entomological surveillance with community participation developed by the National Chagas Programme of the Ministry of Health of Bolivia. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the entomological surveillance strategy with community engagement implemented in Chagas Platform Centers for comprehensive care (CPs). The degree of intradomicillary residual vector infestation, the main seasonal period of triatomines capture, and natural infection by trypanosomatids rates were evaluated. Results: In rural and peri-urban Punata, in the Department of Cochabamba, the houses infestation rate by triatomines exceeds the national average and is above the recommendations of PAHO / WHO. The observations during the seasons of the year showed that Spring season (September to December) was the period where there was a higher average of T. infestans positive houses detected by the families participating in the study in the three departments of Bolivia. The presence of infected triatomines with Trypanosomatideos in positive houses was 6% in the study area, still finding active domestic cycles in rural and peri-urban areas and not in urban areas where triatomines with parasites were not reported during the seven years of monitoring. Conclusions: Reporting infestation foci by the inhabitants is the simplest and most direct way of participation of the community in entomological surveillance. These strategies should be included in the health policies of the countries, as well as extending and deepening the dialogue between technicians, communities and their local authorities.