Seroprevalencia de la infección por trypanosoma cruzi en escolares de seis y doce años de edad de tres departamentos endémicos de Uruguay / Seroprevalence of trypanosoma cruzi infection in 6 and 12 years old schoolchildren from 3 Uruguayan endemic departaments

ABSTRACT

The last national survey on seroprevalence of T. cruzi human infection in Uruguay, showed a 3,4 percent in adults from endemic areas. Since 1983, antivectorial actions of the control program have been carried out continually. In consequence, household infestation by Triatoma infestan, the main vector of T. cruzi in Uruguay, decreased in all endemic areas and was completely eliminated in some of them. The objectives of the present work are to evaluate the new seroepidemiological situation. A representive sampling of rural and urban population was undertaken, to include six and twelve year-old schoolchildren from three departments Artigas, Rivera and Tacuarembo. The whole sample included 4,722 school children, evaluated by the indirect inmunofluorescense (IFI) test for Chagasïdisease. The seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in the six year-old group was 0,3 percent in Artigas, 0,6 percent in Rivera and 1,0 percent in Tacuarembo. The seropositive children with seropositive mothers support the possible congenital transmission