Improved detection of house infestations with triatomines using sticky traps: a paired-comparison trial in the Argentine Chaco

Abstract

AbstractBackground: We conducted a matched-pairs trial of three methods for detecting house infestation with triatominaebugs in a well-defined endemic rural area in the Argentine Chaco.Methods: The three methods included a simple double-sided adhesive tape (ST) installed near host resting sites;timed-manual collections with a dislodging aerosol (TMC, the reference method used by vector control programmes),and householders? bug notifications (HN). Triatomine infestations were evaluated in 103 sites of 54 houses, includingdomiciles, kitchens and storerooms.Results: In domiciles where Triatoma infestans was collected, sensitivity of each single method decreased from 79%by ST and 77% by HN, to 57% by TMC, and increased to 92% when ST was combined with HN. In peridomestic kitchensand storerooms, TMC was relatively as sensitive as ST and significantly more sensitive than HN. On average, thenumber of bugs recovered by ST was 0.94 times that collected by TMC. The ST mainly collected early-instar nymphswhereas TMC yielded late (larger) stages. Triatomines caught by ST had significantly lower mean weight-to-lengthratios and lower blood-feeding rates than those caught by TMC, suggesting the ST intercepted and trapped vectorsseeking a blood meal host.Conclusions: The ST may effectively replace TMC for detecting T. infestans in domiciles, and is especially apt forearly detection of low-density domestic infestations in the frame of community-based surveillance or eliminationprogrammes; decision making on whether an area should be targeted for full-coverage insecticide spraying, and tocorroborate that extant conditions are compatible with the interruption of vector-borne transmission.