Importance of thirteen species of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) vectors of Chagas disease in Mexico

Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, parasite responsible for Chagas disease, are divided in intradomestic, peridomestic and sylvatic. Mexico has 32 species of Trypanosoma cruzi vectors, 19 species belong to the genus Triatoma and six are in the genus Meccus. Two genera and fifteen species exist only in Mexico, one is Dipetalogaster with one species and the other is the genus Meccus with six species. The genus Triatoma has eight species only found in Mexico. Thirteen species are related to human dwellings. The intradomestic are Triatoma barberi and Triatoma dimidiata, two species that represent the highest health risk among the Mexican population. Triatoma dimidiata is a species found mainly inside human habitats, but in Yucatan, it corresponds to the peridomicile vectors. Also in the peridomicile most of Chagas disease vectors are found: Meccus bassolsae, M. longipennis, M. mazzottii, M pallidipennis, M. phyllosomus, M picturata, Triatoma gerstaeckeri, T mexicana, T rubida, Dipetalogaster máxima, Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus Rhodnius prolixus. Peridomestic vectors are of lower risk in the transmission dynamics, as compared to the intradomestic ones. Then, the serology titers are higher in the localities associate to T. barberi and T. dimidiata. For the control of the intradomestic vectors, health education programs, improvements of housing, and the use of pesticides are essential. To control the peridomestic vectors, health education programs are required, as well as the use of mosquito nets on doors and windows and around beds, aside from cementing the stone wall fences.