Assessing the impact of disease vectors on animal populations

Many studies have attempted to assess the relative effects of different vectors of a disease on animal populations. To this end, three measures have been proposed: Vectorial efficiency, Vectorial capacity and recently Vectorial effectiveness (or Vectorial impact). In this study we relate these measures to derive some of their properties emphasising in the vectorial impact for its importance in both, population performance of parasites and the proportion of the prevalence of one parasite due to a given vector. We applied the quantitative expressions advanced in this study to a simple Chilean example with one parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi), two vectors (Triatoma infestans and Mepraia spinolai) and one animal population (humans: Chagas's disease).