Decision-making on tick control practices is linked to the level of knowledge about livestock farming and to the social context in which individuals practice them. Tick infestation is one of the main problems in tropical livestock production. The objective of this study was to characterize tick-control related practices in two tropical livestock areas and their potential association with the level of tick infestation. A total of 139 farms were included in this survey. To determine this association, a multivariate logistic regression model was used. A stepwise model selection procedure was used and model validation was tested. Cattle husbandry as a main activity, the use of external paddocks, the use of amitraz, and the lack of mechanization on the farm were related with high tick infestation. On the other hand, owner involvement in the preparation of acaricide solution was identified as a protective factor against high tick infestation. At animal level, age (old), body condition status (thin), and lactation were also associated with high tick infestations, while Bos primigenius indicus cattle and their crosses reduced the probability of high tick infestations. The factors studied, such as herd size, education level of the owners, and veterinary guidance, varied from farm to farm. Nonetheless, these differences did not generate changes in the level of tick infestation. According to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), the model at farm level predicts a high level of infestation, with an accuracy of 72.00% and high sensitivity. In addition, at animal level, crossbreeding with indicus cattle and breeding selection for host resistance will be useful against high tick infestation. Likewise, the implementation of programs of capacitation and research on tick control for farmers, cowboys, and vets in these areas is necessary.

Se registra por primera vez la especie Triatoma dispar a una altitud de 1.200 msnm en la localidad de Milpe km 90, Cantón San Miguel de los Bancos, Provincia de Pichincha y se actualiza su distribución geográfica en el Ecuador. Los triatominos se colectaron durante un estudio de flebótomos (vectores de Leishmania), en peridomicilio y remanentes de bosque. Milpe km 90 no presentó evidencia clínica, ni transmisión de la enfermedad de Chagas o circulación enzoótica de Trypanosoma cruzi; sin embargo, se encuentra en una zona de riesgo epidemiológico alto. El presente trabajo contribuye al inventario de la fauna de triatominos del Ecuador y a la actualización de la distribución geográfica de T. dispar, una especie silvestre con potencial rol vectorial, que ya ha colonizado ambientes domésticos y peridomésticos en Esmeraldas y Loja.

This research represents a study in an Amazonian village that has similar structures to others Kichwa Amazonian villages of Ecuador. We evaluated the diversity, ecology, possibility of mosquitoes/ pathogens translocation from forest to urban area, and the vulnerability by potential mosquito vectors of diseases through an intensive and fast method done January 2017. Our analyses registered a high diversity of mosquitos in Limoncocha village (33 spp, H’ 2.76), which includes four new records of species for Ecuador. We propose the biological reserve and the lagoon are determinant environmental factors for the high mosquito diversity, plus the socio-economic characteristics related with a deficient water pipeline supply and lack of solid waste system. Furthermore, the high diversity of sylvan mosquitoes registered throughout the area, that include several potential vectors, suggest a moderate to high vulnerability for the transference of pathogens from the Biological Reserve to the urbanized area, which may increase the circulation of little-known arboviruses (Mayaro, Ilheus, St Louis encephalitis) across Ecuador.

Summary A new phytotelm plant for the Americas is recorded for San Miguel de los Bancos, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. In the leaf axils of Crinum moorei Hook. f. (Amaryllidaceae) were collected larvae and pupae of a common mosquito, Wyeomyia (Dendromyia) complosa (Dyar) (Diptera: Culicidae: Sabethini). This plant is a South African native, introduced into several countries, but never reported as a habitat for immature mosquitoes. We provide notes about its botanical and ecological characteristics, and also of the mosquito associated at this locality.

Introducción. La provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador, es un área endémica de leishmaniasis cutánea, en donde se han determinado como vectores los flebotomíneos antropofílicos con infección natural por Leishmania spp. Sin embargo, no se ha evaluado el papel en la transmisión de las especies zoofílicas.Objetivo. Evaluar la infección natural por Leishmania en dos especies de flebotomíneos zoofílicos, Lutzomyia reburra y Lu. barrettoi majuscula, y en una antropofílica, Lu. trapidoi, así como la endofagia y la sinantropía de estas especies en el noroccidente de Pichincha.Materiales y métodos. Los flebotomíneos se recolectaron en trampas de luz CDC colocadas en diferentes hábitats y altitudes en sitios que son focos de leishmaniasis cutánea. La infección con Leishmania spp. se detectó en el ADN genómico de hembras de las especies de flebotomíneos de interés. Se amplificó el gen espaciador interno de la transcripción del ARN ribosómico, unidad I (ITS1), y los genes de las topoiso-merasas mitocondrial II (mtTOPOII) y nuclear II (TopoII). Se determinaron los porcentajes de positividad para Leishmania a escala espaciotemporal, la proporción de endofagia y el índice de sinantropía.Resultados. Se determinó la presencia de infección natural por Le. amazonensis en Lu. reburra (9,5 %) y Lu. b. majuscula (23,8 %); en Lu. trapidoi se detectaron Le. amazonensis, Le. brazilienis y Le. naiffi-lainsoni. Los flebotomíneos eran asinantrópicos y con baja endofagia.Conclusión. Se registró por primera vez la presencia de infección natural en Lu. reburra y Lu. barrettoi majuscula por Le. amazonensis, y se demostró la importancia de los flebotomíneos zoofílicos en el mantenimiento del ciclo de transmisión de Leishmania spp. en focos endémicos.