Epidemiological Surveillance of Chagas Disease in Sao Paulo State: Community Participation and Vectors Situation

The Chagas Disease Control program in the State of São Paulo includes community participation in entomological surveillance with the referral of suspected insects, which allows monitoring the situation. This study aims at evaluating epidemiological surveillance of Chagas disease in the state emphasizing community participation. Information from the period between 1990 and 2021 has been analyzed. From 1990 to 2003 entomological surveillance efforts included active search in locations according to infestation and since then community participation prevails through notification of triatomines by residents. Insects collected are identified and examined to check for Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Through community participation 46,129 notifications of triatomines were forwarded, out of which 27,1% were positive after checking. Within the period 230,303 triatomines were collected predominating Triatoma sordida (74.9%). In the last quadrennium Rhodnius neglectus species was the most collected one. Higher levels of natural infection were observed for Triatoma tibiamaculata (18.6%), followed by Panstrongylus megistus (9.4%) that has colonized urban areas. Serology run in human was positive in 1.4% of samples. Entomological surveillance with community participation has been effective. The colonization of triatomines in urban centers reinforces the importance of the education and health component in this program.