Sensitivity of Gomez-Nuñez boxes for the detection of household infestation with Panstrongylus megistus

Sensitivity of Gomez-Nuñez boxes for the detection of household infestation with Panstrongylus megistus

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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 Halters 7 houses positive exclusively on the Gomez-Nuñez method were located in a recently sprayed area, Pillow Block Bearing 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.