With the objectives of dengue prevention, health promotion, and action-based research, two experiments were conducted in pilot areas of Buenos Aires and Vicente López, Argentina. In each area, community, government, and non-governmental references were identified. The study included an entomological survey (with ovitraps), environmental survey (with field observations, interviews, and workshops), and social survey (using questionnaires, interviews, and meetings). Spaces for dialogue and collaboration were developed with the community, thereby spawning participatory activities and empowerment. Environmental reordering and reduction of mosquito breeding sites were promoted by: incorporation of environmental issues and vector-borne disease prevention into the school curricula; neighborhood workshops; training of environmental agents to transmit information and train peers; and planning community environmental projects. The households were visited, seeking to integrate the residents into their own community environmental diagnosis. There were significant differences between the pilot areas in knowledge and social practices, but not according to socioeconomic status. The schools and health promotion settings proved to be the main community reference for promoting healthy environmental practices.

Con objetivos de prevención de dengue, promoción de la salud e investigación-acción se desarrollaron dos experiencias en zonas piloto de Buenos Aires y Vicente López. En cada zona se identificaron referentes comunitarios, gubernamentales y no gubernamentales. Se realizó un diagnóstico entomológico (mediante ovitrampas), ambiental (con observaciones en terreno, encuestas y talleres), y social (utilizando cuestionarios, entrevistas y reuniones). Se construyeron espacios de diálogo y trabajo conjunto con la comunidad, generando acciones participativas y empoderamiento. Se fomentó el ordenamiento ambiental y la reducción de criaderos de mosquitos a través de incorporación de temas ambientales y prevención de enfermedades vectoriales a los currícula escolares; talleres vecinales de difusión; capacitación de promotoras ambientales para transmitir información y para capacitar a pares; planificación de proyectos ambientales de la comunidad. Se entró en los domicilio, buscando integrar a sus habitantes en el diagnóstico ambiental propio y comunitario. Se registraron diferencias significativas entre conocimientos y prácticas sociales, para ambas zonas piloto, pero no por nivel socioeconómico. Las escuelas y los entornos de promoción de salud resultaron ser los principales referentes comunitarios para fomentar prácticas ambientales saludables.

With the objectives of dengue prevention, health promotion, and action-based research, two experiments were conducted in pilot areas of Buenos Aires and Vicente López, Argentina. In each area, community, government, and non-governmental references were identified. The study included an entomological survey (with ovitraps), environmental survey (with field observations, interviews, and workshops), and social survey (using questionnaires, interviews, and meetings). Spaces for dialogue and collaboration were developed with the community, thereby spawning participatory activities and empowerment. Environmental reordering and reduction of mosquito breeding sites were promoted by: incorporation of environmental issues and vector-borne disease prevention into the school curricula; neighborhood workshops; training of environmental agents to transmit information and train peers; and planning community environmental projects. The households were visited, seeking to integrate the residents into their own community environmental diagnosis. There were significant differences between the pilot areas in knowledge and social practices, but not according to socioeconomic status. The schools and health promotion settings proved to be the main community reference for promoting healthy environmental practices.

Con objetivos de prevención de dengue, promoción de la salud e investigación-acción se desarrollaron dos experiencias en zonas piloto de Buenos Aires y Vicente López. En cada zona se identificaron referentes comunitarios, gubernamentales y no gubernamentales. Se realizó un diagnóstico entomológico (mediante ovitrampas), ambiental (con observaciones en terreno, encuestas y talleres), y social (utilizando cuestionarios, entrevistas y reuniones). Se construyeron espacios de diálogo y trabajo conjunto con la comunidad, generando acciones participativas y empoderamiento. Se fomentó el ordenamiento ambiental y la reducción de criaderos de mosquitos a través de incorporación de temas ambientales y prevención de enfermedades vectoriales a los currícula escolares; talleres vecinales de difusión; capacitación de promotoras ambientales para transmitir información y para capacitar a pares; planificación de proyectos ambientales de la comunidad. Se entró en los domicilio, buscando integrar a sus habitantes en el diagnóstico ambiental propio y comunitario. Se registraron diferencias significativas entre conocimientos y prácticas sociales, para ambas zonas piloto, pero no por nivel socioeconómico. Las escuelas y los entornos de promoción de salud resultaron ser los principales referentes comunitarios para fomentar prácticas ambientales saludables.

Cases of dengue detected in Buenos Aires City between 1999 and 2000 confirmed the possibility of epidemic outbreaks. The activity of its vector Aedes aegypi was monitored to study the spatial and temporal risk of dengue transmission. Adult oviposition activity of Aedes aegypti showed an heterogeneous spatio-temporal distribution pattern. It was detected between October and May. The vector was detected from spring to fall in the Northern, Western and Southern areas of the city (periphery) and only in summer in the Eastern part (downtown-river). The proportion of infested sites differed between the three periods but the infested areas coincided spatially. Although a spatial and temporal heterogeneity exists, the pattern repeated itself during the three periods suggesting stable dynamics. The not infested areas presented the highest population and employees densities while the areas infested during the three periods the lowest. This might represent an attenuation of the risk, because higher densities do not coincide with higher infestation. From the point of view of the vector the risk of transmission would concentrate between January and March and occupy 50% of the city surface in the periphery.

Los casos de dengue detectados en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires entre 1999 y 2000 confirmaron la posibilidad de brotes epidémicos. Para estudiar el riesgo de transmisión de dengue espacial y temporalmente se midió la actividad de su vector, el mosquito Aedes aegypti. La actividad de ovipostura del vector mostró un patrón de distribución heterogéneo en el tiempo y el espacio. Ocurrió entre octubre y mayo. En las áreas del Norte, Oeste y Sur de la ciudad (periferia) el vector fue detectado entre la primavera y el otoño en tanto que en las áreas del Este (microcentro-río) sólo en el verano. La proporción de sitios infestados varió entre los 3 períodos de estudio, pero las zonas infestadas coincidieron espacialmente. Aunque se observó variación anual y espacial de la infestación, el patrón se repitió durante los 3 años de estudio sugiriendo una dinámica estable. Las áreas de la ciudad no infestadas presentaron las mayores densidades de población y de empleados, mientras que las infestadas durante los 3 períodos presentaron las menores densidades. Esto podría representar una atenuación del riesgo, ya que no coincide la mayor densidad de habitantes con la mayor infestación. El riesgo de transmisión desde el punto de vista del vector se concentraría entre enero y marzo y ocuparía el 50% de la superficie de la ciudad en la periferia.

Flight activity and invasion of houses by Triatoma sordida and T. guasayana were studied in the Province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Spontaneous findings of both species in houses were recorded from 1982 to 1989. Light trap collections were performed in 1982, 1983 and 1984, at the woods surrounding the settlements of Amamá (43 houses) and Trinidad (19 houses). Most of the 101 triatomines collected, were unfed and negative for Trypanosoma cruzi. T. guasayana predominated over T. sordida, and both appeared on the lighted screens between 19-31 min (mean 24) after dusk and the catch time was 30-45 min. Although entomological evaluation of 41 houses at Amamá performed in September 1985, just before insecticidal spraying, showed that Triatoma infestans predominated, adults of T. guasayana were collected in sleeping places, in 7 houses (17%). Most triatomines invading houses from then up to 1990 were flying T. guasayana (20/27) and females outnumbered males. Three non infected T. guasayana females were fed on man and two T. guasayana males positive for "T. cruzi like" trypanosomes were unfed. Therefore, visiting hungry adults could transmit T. cruzi to people and introduce wild parasites to the domestic cycle. T. guasayana stands as the main potential substitute of T. infestans in the studied area, and it might play there the same role as T. sordida in Brazil.

To identify wild hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi, surveys were conducted in the subandean valleys of Jujuy Province, Argentina, between June 1986 and March 1987. Seventy two mammals from 13 different species were examined by xenodiagnosis. Fifty two of them were mostly roedents trapped at the localities of Maimará, León and Tilcara, and the remainder had been kept in captivity at the Estación Biológica Experimental, in Jujuy. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was detected only in 2 Octodontomys gliroides (2 pos./8 exam. 25%) from all 72 examined mammals. Isolates were called Octodontomys Argentina 1 and 2 (OA1 and OA2). Both infected animals were caught at the archaelogical ruin of Pucará, at Tilcara. Repeated searches for triatomines in the ruin itself and in neighbour houses rendered negative results. Groups of mice inoculated with either OA1 or OA2 isolates became infected between 7 (OA1) to 12 days (OA2) postinoculation PI. Parasitemia peaks were observed between day 12th - 14th PI. Scarce amastigote nests were found in myocardium and skeletal muscle. Mortality was observed only for mice inoculated with OA1. Isoenzyme patterns of OA1 and OA2 were identical to one found in dogs and slightly different from that of human parasites in Argentina. Bones from Octodontomys sp., were recently found in a cave, dated 10200-8600 BC, in Pumamarca, near Tilcara, Jujuy. There are evidences that O. gliroides cohabited with man in ancient times and was associated to the domestic cycle of T. cruzi transmission, playing a role like that of domestic cavies. in Bolivia.