The use and mis-use of some ecological terms and concepts in epidemiology

the article discusses the current use and mis-use of ecological terms and concepts in epidemiological literature, and in special, in works dealing with zoonotic diseases. a selection of examples was taken from papers recently published on the transmission of chagas' disease by triatoma sordida. proper definitions are listed, with the intent of helping non-ecologists to use those terms and concepts correctly.