Ocorrência de triatomíneos, na região de Olhos D’água (Uberlândia, Minas Gerais)

Abstract

Chagas’ disease is an important endemy that underíakes the American Continení. Estimates suggest that there are among 18 and 25 million of people infected and 90 to 100 million living under permanent risk of the infection. This research evaluated the occurrence of tríatomine bugs with tendency to domiciliation, in the region of Olhos d’água, municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, and the knowledge of the local population about several aspects of the Chagas’ disease. Big and small farms were investigated in the folio wing Iocalities: Pindaíba, Mangue, Olhos d’água and Tenda (rural zone). In the Vila Marielza, a peripherical city district of Uberlândia, residences were inspectionated because they were in an urban area adjacent to the rural zone. AH houses were investigated, inside and outside (outbuilding). The capture o f the tríatomine bugs was made with manual work and use o f the tweezers and coJector flasks. The perception of disease by the population was evaluated through questionnaries, applied to householders of the investigated housing. In the rural zone, 82 residences were inspectionated with an average of 4,6 outbuilding by house. In the periurban area, 84 intervews and 79 housing inspections were done, with an average of 2,3 outbuilding by house. In the rural area, it was verified a percentual of infestation by tríatomine bugs of 6,1%. The species presents were: T. sórdida (2,4%), R. neglectus (2,4%) and an unidentified specime (1,3%). In this total, 3,7% was found inside and 2,4% outside o f the residences. No infestation was detectated in Vila Marielza. These results showed a tendency of domiciliation by silvatíc tríatomine bugs in the region. It can be associated to intensive jungle clearíng, producing a lack in food resources and shelter to tríatomine bugs, beyond the possibilíty o f ocupation o f the “empty niche” left by T. infestans, associated to its control in the past. The great number o f animais in the examíned residences suggests that those animais can be alternatives sources of food to tríatomine bugs. A total o f 166 questionnaries were applied, showing a tendency of the householders to associate Chagas’ disease with hearfs damages. It was observed that the questioned people recognized the vector T infestans, but not demonstrated a complet knowledge about important aspects o f the evolution and profilaxis of the endemy. The urban population reporíed the occurrence o f tríatomine bugs in the city district, but this fact was not confírmed by the vectors’ survey. Nevertheless, the favourable enviromental conditions to the presence of the tríatomine bugs and the proximity of this area with the rural Iocalities infested, indicate that the presumptive infestation can be real. The -esults confirm the occurrence of the tríatomine bugs in the region, their capacity of lomiciliation and show the need of intensifícation in the control activities and epidemiological zigilance necessaiy in the studied area, involving not only the vectors’ control, but also a ;omplet work of health education to elucidate the local population.