Spatial Distribution of Bedbug Infestation in Infested Houses: Is There an Association between Sanitation of Houses and Bedbug Presence?

Nowadays, bedbug infestation is one of the public health problems around the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of bedbug in different parts of the infested houses. Moreover, the association between house sanitation and presence of bedbug infestation was determined in infested houses in Ahvaz City, Iran.

Totally, 57 bedbug-infested houses were visited door-to-door in Ahvaz City from April 2015 to April 2018. Data were collected by visual inspection. The spatial distribution of bedbug in different parts of the infested houses was assessed visually. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association between bedbug presence and house sanitation level.

In the 57 infested houses, bedroom and living room were the main infested parts in 74% and 26% of the houses, respectively. The highest infestation sources in houses were bedding as well as cracks and crevices with frequency rates of 58% and 18%, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between house sanitation and presence of infestation (χ2 = 3.5; df = 4; P = 0.522). In total, 56% of the residents reported high levels of bedbug infestation in their houses. Furthermore, 46% of the participants mentioned that their houses had recently been infested, but many residents did not know the exact time of first infestation in the house.

The present study confirms that bedbugs' infestations cannot be associated with house sanitation. Further research is needed to better understand the association between house situation and bedbug infestations.