New structures for goat corrals as an environmental management tool for the control of peridomestic populations of Triatoma infestans in the Gran Chaco of Argentina.

• Autores: Gorla, David Eladio; Abrahan, Luciana Beatriz; Hernández, María Laura; Porcasi Gomez, Ximena; Hrellac, Hugo Américo; Carrizo, Hugo Alfredo; Catala, Silvia Susana
• Año de publicación: 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Triatominae; Triatoma infestans; goat corral; vector control; productivity
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Goat production is an important economic activity for rural communities in the Gran Chaco of Argentina. Goat corrals are important for the survival of peridomestic populations of Triatoma infestans. This study evaluated the impact of modifying the traditional structure of goat corrals on T. infestans populations and goat productivity in the region of Los Llanos (La Rioja). Thirty-nine experimental corrals were constructed and 57 traditional corrals were used as controls. We evaluated the infestations of the control and experimental corrals for five years following construction of the structures. The results showed that the new structures did not prevent the colonization, although it enhanced the detection of infestation at low densities of T. infestans. No significant difference was found in T. infestans population abundance between control and experimental corrals, probably because of the different detectability in the two types of structures, especially among the small nymphs. Although goat productivity average was higher in experimental than in control corrals, no significant difference was found because of high variability. The new structures can be used as a complement to promote the development of rural communities. Acceptability and adoption of the new corrals by the owners was high, as the enclosures offered better protection for the goats, increased growth of kids and facilitated herd handling.
Fil: Gorla, David Eladio. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Regional de Inv. Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnologica de Anillaco; Argentina;
Fil: Abrahan, Luciana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Regional de Inv. Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnologica de Anillaco; Argentina;
Fil: Hernández, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Regional de Inv. Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnologica de Anillaco; Argentina;
Fil: Porcasi Gomez, Ximena. Instituto Mario Gulich, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales; Argentina;
Fil: Hrellac, Hugo Américo. Programa Chagas La Rioja; Argentina;
Fil: Carrizo, Hugo Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Cs.naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina;
Fil: Catala, Silvia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Regional de Inv. Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnologica de Anillaco; Argentina;