In order to update the checklist of wild mosquitoes in the state of Colima, in the western coast of Mexico, an entomological survey was conducted in 33 sampling sites using human bait, CDC traps with CO2 and mechanical aspirator during 2007. A total of 3 076 mosquitoes were collected, of which the most abundant species were: Aedes taeniorhynchus, A. trivittatus and Deinocerites pseudes. Coastal sites, with higher temperature and lower elevation above sea level showed the highest densities of mosquitoes. The most abundant species had an aggregated distribution and there were 18 species previously unrecorded for Colima. Some of the species found are of public health importance, therefore, it is suggested to include undisturbed places and sparcely populated settlements in entomological surveillance.

Con el fin de actualizar el listado de mosquitos selváticos en Colima, ubicada en la costa oeste de México, se llevó a cabo una colecta entomológica en 33 sitios de muestreo con cebo humano, trampas CDC cebadas con CO2 y aspirador mecánico durante el año 2007. En total se recolectaron 3 076 mosquitos, de los cuales las especies más abundantes fueron Aedes taeniorhynchus, A. trivittatus y Deinocerites pseudes. Los sitios costeros, con clima más cálido y menor altura sobre el nivel del mar mostraron mayor densidad de mosquitos. Las especies más abundantes presentaron una distribución de tipo agregado y se encontraron 18 especies no registradas en Colima. Algunas de las especies encontradas son de importancia en salud pública, por lo que se sugiere incluir la vigilancia entomológica en zonas silvestres y localidades escasamente pobladas.

Despite efforts to eradicate American trypanosomiasis (AT) and Chagas disease from the Americas, there are still areas of active transmission that can eventually become a source of reinfection in previously controlled regions. Mexico could be one of those areas, where there are no formal preventive control programs despite the presence of communities infested by Triatominae bugs infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. This study explored the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in 405 habitants of 17 communities in the state of Colima, on the Pacific Mexican coast, through a seroepidemiological probabilistic survey. The results revealed a point seroprevalence of 2.4% positive for anti-T. cruzi. In addition, 2 clinical cases of chronic and 2 of acute Chagas disease were detected in the explored communities. These findings confirm the risk of active transmission of AT in Western Mexico, especially in rural and suburban communities infested with intra-domestic triatominae, where control programs should be implemented.

With the purpose of evaluating the risk of transmission of the Chagas disease in the State of Colima, México, an entomological survey was performed to obtain triatominae and the rate of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi determined by examination of its dejections. Two hundred eighteen houses located in 16 villages were sampled. In each house the intradomestic and peridomestic habitats were examined by the man-hour-house method, sensor boxes and mouse-baited traps. Also, 12 silvatic places were explored around the same areas using the same techniques as the ones sampled. In total, 456 specimens were captured, of which 139 correspond to Triatoma phyllosoma pallidipennis; 80 to T. p. longipennis; one specimen of T. dimidiata and 236 nymphs of Triatoma sp. Two hundred ninety seven insects were captured in the intradomestic habitat, 132 in the peridomestic and 26 in the silvatic. The index of positive houses was 27%, located in the central area of the state. The rate of natural infection with T. cruzi showed 25.6%. This results confirmed the presence of two important vectors of the Chagas disease in Colima. Its preference for the domestic habitat and its high levels of natural infection with T. cruzi suggested the existence of a significant risk for its transmission in this area of the country.