[Peridomiciliary changes and implications for Triatoma brasiliensis control]

A total of 9,906 annexes from 1,541 rural dwellings of Boa Viagem County, Ceará, Brazil, infested by Triatoma brasiliensis and Triatoma pseudomaculata were investigated and immediately sprayed with pyrethroid insecticide, followed by revisions at 6, 12, and 18 months. The initial infestation rate of annexes was 4.0%, with predominant infestation in animal shelters (7.0%). Mean insect density was low, regardless of triatomine species or type of annex. A progressive decrease in the number of initial annexes was observed (66% of remaining annexes), mainly those classified as "piles of materials". Only 3% of the annexes were modified by the population. New constructed annexes were important as new foci of infestation. Some 25% were infested at the end of observation period, significantly more than the "old" annexes (4.0%), a difference attributed to insecticide spraying at the beginning of the intervention. Reinfestation occurred slowly and was more frequent in animal shelters No differences were observed between traditional pyrethroid and slow-release organophosphate formulations. Selective spraying of "new" annexes is recommended.