Sensitivity of Gomez-Nuñez boxes for the detection of household infestation with Panstrongylus megistus
Four methods for detecting household infestations with Panstrongylus megistus were compared: 1) manual collection; 2) collection after pyrethrum application; 3) search viable eggs; and 4) Gomez-Nuñez boxes. Manual collection was the most sensitive method (23% infested), followed by pyrethrum (21%),...
Published in: | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
1984
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86821984000100005 https://doaj.org/article/11a9e297934d488599a5415782347412 |
Summary: | Four methods for detecting household infestations with Panstrongylus megistus were compared: 1) manual collection; 2) collection after pyrethrum application; 3) search viable eggs; and 4) Gomez-Nuñez boxes. Manual collection was the most sensitive method (23% infested), followed by pyrethrum (21%), Gomez-Nuñez boxes (15%) and viable eggs (12%). About 10% of infested houses were positive exclusively on the Gomez-Nuñez box test. More over, 6 out of the 7 houses positive exclusively on the Gomez-Nuñez method were located in a recently sprayed area, where P. megistus density was low. Inspection of Gomez-Nuñez boxes at 12 weekspost-application was twice as effective as inspection at 6 weekspost-application. Triatomine feces was the most common evidencefor thepresence of P. megistus found within Gomez-Nuñez boxes. Gomez-Nuñez boxes area a useful adjunct to manual collection in detecting domestic infestations with P. megistus, especially in areas where bug densities are low. However, the utility of Gomez-Nuhez boxes must be weighed against the time and labor they require. |
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