ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a vector-borne disease with a major disease burden in the Americas, with over 6 million cases. There are about 200,000 cases in Ecuador, but the epidemiology of the disease is poorly understood, particularly in the Amazon region, making surveillance and control challenging. METHODS: We determined here the seroprevalence of T. cruzi antibodies in a cohort of 516 schoolchildren aged 5-15 years from Chontapunta parish, in the Napo province, Ecuador, using ELISA and indirect hemaglutination tests. RESULTS: We detected a seroprevalence of 0.77% (95% confidence interval 0.31-1.97%), with some significant variation among the three studied communities. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence of the ongoing transmission of T. cruzi in this area, and support the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and patient care.
Subject(s)
Chagas Disease , Trypanosoma cruzi , Antibodies, Protozoan , Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Child , Ecuador/epidemiology , Humans , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
Chagas disease is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and about 230,000 persons are estimated to be infected in Ecuador. However, limited studies have been performed in the Amazon region, on the eastern side of the country. We evaluated here the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 12 rural villages of the Loreto canton, Orellana Province in schoolchildren aged 5-15 years and in pregnant women. A total of 1,649 blood samples were tested for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect hemaglutination, and discordant samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay. We detected a seroprevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies of 1.3% in schoolchildren aged 5-15 years, indicating the persistence of a constant and active vectorial transmission in the Loreto County and confirming the need of the implementation of nonconventional vector control. We also observed a seroprevalence of 3.8% in pregnant women, indicating a clear risk of congenital transmission. Further studies should help define this risk more precisely and implement current international guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of these cases.
Subject(s)
Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Trypanosoma cruzi , Adolescent , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology , Child , Child, Preschool , Ecuador/epidemiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Hemagglutination Tests , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Trypanosoma cruzi/immunologyABSTRACT
La enfermedad de Chagas, es uno de los problemas de salud publica de mayor impotancia en America Latina. Aunque la OPS ha estimado una seroprevalencia alrededor de 0.25%, para la enfermedad de Chagas en el ecuador, analisis recientes destacan una prevalencia general, a nivel pais, de 1.38%. El presente estudio, realizado por un equpo interdiciplinario, compuesto por el Progama Nacional del Chagas, autoridades locales de salud de la provincia de Loja y con el apoyo de Médicos sin Fronteras, tomó tres cantones de la Provincia de Loja, (Chaguarpamba, Olmedo y Paltas), seleccionados de acuerdo con estudios anteriores, como de mayor importancia epidemiológica para esta enfermedad...
Chagas disease is one of the more important public health problems in Latin America. Albeit the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated a seroprevalence for Chagas disease in Ecuador of 0.25%, recent analysis revealed a general prevalence of 1.38%.Previous studies about this disease in Loja Province, established a general-population seroprevalence of 5,2% and a triatomine-infestation index per house of 34 %. In this study, performed by an interdisciplinary team, integrated by the National Chagas Program, the LojaProvince health authorities and the aid of Doctors without Borders, we analyzed three cantons of Loja Province (Chaguarpamba, Olmedo y Paltas), selected according to previous studies which recognized them as epidemiological importance regions for this disease...
