Dados do Trabalho

Título

Occurrence and distribution of Panstrongylus megistus in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil from 2007 to 2024

Introdução

Panstrongylus megistus has been considered one of the main Trypanosoma cruzi vectors in Brazil, mostly associated with wide geographical distribution, intra-and peridomestic infestation ability, and high rates of protozoan infection. A previous triatomine occurrence study suggested higher risk only at the northern Paraná State region, with warmer temperature (26–29°C) and relative humidity (70%) averages than Curitiba (Ferro e Silva et al., 2018). Although considered a low-risk area, Curitiba city has recorded P. megistus since 2007 and no current study has assessed the potential association of vector occurrence over time with temperature, humidity, and landscape.

Objetivo (s)

The present study aimed to assess the triatomine occurrence and T. cruzi infection from 2007 to 2024 in Curitiba city, capital of Paraná State and currently the eighth biggest city in Brazil. The triatomine species data were recorded by the Zoonosis Surveillance Unit, City Secretary of Health, Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil.

Material e Métodos

Triatomine specimens were obtained by passive surveillance and taxonomically identified at the Zoonosis Surveillance Unit. Active search for triatomines was conducted in domicile and peridomicile areas, and parasitological analysis to detect T. cruzi epimastigote forms performed by the State Secretary of Health. Land use and vegetation cover (LUVC) data was obtained at the MapBiomas collection, and the percentage of each kind calculated in 200 meters of buffer around the sampling points. The comparison of each LUVC in the different outcomes of T. cruzi infection was assessed by Mann-Whitney test, and analysis conducted in the R program. Spatial prevalence of infected vectors was evaluated in SaTScan.

Resultados e Conclusão

A total of 28 P. megistus were captured by passive surveillance from 2007 to 2024, with no triatomine found by active search. The parasitological analyses showed four infected P. megistus, one in 2013, two in 2023 and one in 2024. No significant statistical differences were found for natural forest, agriculture, and non-vegetation areas between infected and no infected vectors, and for spatial prevalence. T. cruzi positive triatomines were found in peridomicile and intradomicile areas nearby natural areas that suffered disturbance in 2023 and 2024 such as fire, deforestation, and construction. Thus, such recent disturbance may have caused vector movement, likely T. cruzi infected by wild reservoirs, resulting in unexpected increase of triatomine occurrence, complaint, and infection.

Palavras Chave

Key-words: Chagas disease; Neglected diseases; surveillance