| Abstract: | This study longitudinally investigated the association between Triatomadimidiata infestation, triatomine infection with Trypanosomacruzi and household/backyard environmental characteristics in 101homesteads in Molas and Yucatan, Mexico, between November 2009 (rainy season) and May2010 (dry season). Logistic regression models tested the associations between insectinfestation/infection and potential household-level risk factors. A total of 200T. dimidiata were collected from 35.6% of the homesteads, mostly(73%) from the peridomicile. Of all the insects collected, 48% were infected withT. cruzi. Infected insects were collected in 31.6% of thehomesteads (54.1% and 45.9% intra- and peridomiciliary, respectively). Approximately30% of all triatomines collected were found in chicken coops. The presence of achicken coop in the backyard of a homestead was significantly associated with boththe odds of finding T. dimidiata (OR = 4.10, CI 95% = 1.61-10.43,p = 0.003) and the presence of triatomines infected withT. cruzi (OR = 3.37, CI 95% = 1.36-8.33, p =0.006). The results of this study emphasize the relevance of chicken coops as aputative source of T. dimidiata populations and a potential risk forT. cruzi transmission. |
