Los transmisores de Trypanosoma cruzi, flagelado causante de la enfermedad, se dividen en intradomiciliados, peridomiciliados y silvestres. Entre los intradomiciliados se encuentran, Triatoma barberi y Triatoma dimidiata, que son los que representan un mayor riesgo para la Salud Pública, en México. Aunque Triatoma dimidiata se encuentra principalmente dentro de la vivienda, en Yucatán tiene un comportamiento peridomiciliar, dentro de este grupo se encuentran la mayoría de los transmisores de la enfermedad de Chagas Meccus longipennis, M. mazzottii, M. pallidipennis, M. phyllosomus, M. picturatus, Triatoma gerstaeckeri, T. mexicana, T. rubida, Dipetalogaster máxima, Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus y Rhodnius prolixus. Los transmisores peridomiciliados son de menor riesgo en la dinámica de transmisión comparados con los intradomiciliados. Para el control de los transmisores intradomiciliados, se deben emplear programas de educación para la salud, mejoramiento de vivienda e insecticidas; mientras que para los vectores visitantes o peridomiciliados, son necesarios programas de educación para la salud, uso de mosquiteros, pabellones y cementación de las bardas de piedra.

Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, parasite responsible for Chagas disease, are divided in intradomestic, peridomestic and sylvatic. The intradomestic are Triatoma barberi and Triatoma dimidiata, two species that represent the highest health risk among the Mexican population. Triatoma dimidiata is a species found mainly inside human habitats, but in Yucatan, it corresponds to the peridomicile vectors. Also in the peridomicile most of Chagas disease vectors are found: Meccus bassolsae, M. longipennis, M. mazzottii, M pallidipennis, M. phyllosomus, M picturata, Triatoma gerstaeckeri, T mexicana, T rubida, Dipetalogaster máxima (the last two are in the process of becoming adapted to the domicile), Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus which occasionally enters the domicile in its adult stage, and Rhodnius prolixus, which is practically controlled in the country. Peridomestic vectors are of lower risk in the transmission dynamics, as compared to the intradomestic ones. For the control of the intradomestic vectors, health education programs, improvements of housing, and the use of pesticides are essential To control the peridomestic vectors, health education programs are required, as well as the use of mosquito nets on doors and windows and around beds, aside from cementing the stone wall fences.

Three different interventions to control Triatoma dimidiata in the State of Veracruz were implemented: X-1 = whole dwelling spraying, X-2 = middle wall spraying, X-3 = household cleaning. Cyfluthrin was sprayed 3 times with 8 month intervals. After each spraying, insects were collected and sent to the laboratory to be recorded and to determine genus and species of the adult triatomine bugs, and nymphs were counted. Trypanosoma cruzi presence was determined. With X-1, the infestation, colonization, and natural infection indexes were reduced to 0% in the 3 localities, with respect to t0. With X-2, the infestation index was reduced to 10% at t3 in 3 localities; the colonization index was reduced to 0% in only 1 locality at t3, and the natural infection index was reduced to 0% at t3. With X-3 the 3 indexes were not effectively reduced but they decreased with respect to the baseline study. Insecticide application to the whole dwelling is a more efficient intervention than its application to only the lower half of the walls and to the cleaning of houses.