Modelo de distribución espacial de Panstrongylus geniculatus Latreille 1811 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) vector del agente de la Enfermedad de Chagas en Venezuela

Panstrongylus geniculatus is a triatomine vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, an etiological agent of Chagas disease, typical of biological corridors between urban and peri-urban transmission cycles in Venezuela. Ecological niche and potential species distribution models allow to know the relationship between climatic factors and the actual presence of species. The potential geographical distribution model for P. geniculatus, generated by MAXENT showed areas with bioclimatic conditions close to their ecological niche; thus, it defined a wide potential distribution with emphasis on the Northern coastal zone of Venezuela (Lara, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Capital District, Vargas, Monagas and Sucre States) with medium to very high probabilities (0.56 - 1). It, also predicted areas with suitability conditions in Western and Eastern States even though actual records are scarce. The isothermality and maximum temperature of the hottest month, contributed 43.4 % to the model; variables related to precipitation contributed 56.6 %. This coincides with the fact that triatomines are thermotolerant and are distributed according to temperature, which also conditions the number of infected triatomines. The ideal geographic areas of the country would constitute risk areas for triatomine infestation and the transmission of T. cruzi, coinciding with the area with the highest density of the human population, which would consider fine-tuning strategies for entomological surveillance and epidemiological control.