[Presence of Triatoma infestans in relation to various cultural patterns in a rural population of the Province of San Juan, Argentina].

This paper reports results from a punctual epidemiological survey performed in San Juan, at Bermejo, a rural village located 100 km east from the provincial capital, in December 1987. The village had been rebuilt after almost complete destruction by an earthquake, in 1977. According to a census performed by local Primary Health Care Agents, there were 82 households, where 72 (88%) of them were inhabited, with a total human population of 198 people. Forty-eight from those inhabited dwellings (67%) were visited, and a general questionnaire was completed. Information gathered included, sex, age, working activity, number of people and domestic animals at the house, construction patterns of houses and outdoor premises, resting habits of animals, specially dogs, domestic use of insecticides and migration patterns of inhabitants. A timed collection of triatomines (man-hour method) was undertaken in 17 out of 48 of the visited households. Sampled triatomines were kept and classified by collection site, instar, and sex at the field. Species identification, microscopical examination of fecal contents to detect trypanosomes and blood-meals identification, were performed at the laboratory. Sixty-nine per cent (33/48) of the dwellings were "ranchos" with mud-brick ("adobe") and cane walls, roofs made of cane and mud dirt floors. The remainder were as follows: 11 (23%), partially improved houses and 4 (8%) had brick walls and were tiled or had zinc roofs. Data of migration patterns of local population were obtained in 31 (65%) out of 48 households. Seasonal movements within San Juan Province, mainly related to vintage were reported in 20/31 (65%) families.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)