Integrated pest management strategies targeting the Florida kissing bug, Triatoma sanguisuga: Preventing this vector of Chagas disease from invading your home

Norman L Beatty; Chanakya R Bhosale; Carson W Torhorst; Nathan D Burkett-Cadena; Faith M Oi; Colin J Forsyth; Samantha M Wisely

doi:10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100144

Integrated pest management strategies targeting the Florida kissing bug, Triatoma sanguisuga: Preventing this vector of Chagas disease from invading your home

Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2023 Sep 28:4:100144. doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100144. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Norman L Beatty^{1

2}, Chanakya R Bhosale³, Carson W Torhorst⁴, Nathan D Burkett-Cadena⁵, Faith M Oi⁶, Colin J Forsyth⁷, Samantha M Wisely^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
² Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
³ Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
⁴ University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁵ Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Vero Beach, FL, USA.
⁶ University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁷ Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), commonly called "kissing bugs", are blood-sucking pests and vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). Eleven species of kissing bugs occur throughout the southern half of the USA, four of which are well known to invade human dwellings. Certain kissing bugs in the USA are known to transmit T. cruzi to humans and other animals and their bites can also lead to serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In Florida, the kissing bug Triatoma sanguisuga frequently invades homes, bites residents, and has been found infected with T. cruzi, placing humans and companion animals at risk for CD. This review outlines integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for minimizing human exposure to T. sanguisuga and CD. A comprehensive IPM plan for kissing bugs includes detailed inspections, removal of vertebrate host nesting areas, and kissing bug harborage, home improvements to exclude kissing bugs from entering structures, pest removal, and judicious use of pesticides. This approach can limit or eliminate kissing bug entry into residential structures, thereby preventing kissing bug bites, and CD infections in humans and companion animals.

Keywords: Chagas disease; Integrated pest management; Kissing bug; Triatoma sanguisuga.

Publication types

Review