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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060 EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 112, No. 5, 2017, pp. 348-353
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Bioline Code: oc17044
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 112, No. 5, 2017, pp. 348-353
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Chagas disease: national survey of seroprevalence in children under five years of age conducted in 2008
Russomando, Graciela; Cousiño, Blanca; Sanchez, Zunilda; Franco, Laura X; Nara, Eva M; Chena, Lilian; Martínez, Magaly; Galeano, María E & Benitez, Lucio
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the early 1990s, programs to control Chagas disease in South America have focused on eradicating domiciliary
Triatoma infestans, the main vector. Seroprevalence studies of the chagasic infection are included as part of the vector control
programs; they are essential to assess the impact of vector control measures and to monitor the prevention of vector transmission.
OBJECTIVE To assess the interruption of domiciliary vector transmission of Chagas disease by T. infestans in Paraguay by
evaluating the current state of transmission in rural areas.
METHODS A survey of seroprevalence of Chagas disease was carried out in a representative sample group of Paraguayans aged
one to five years living in rural areas of Paraguay in 2008. Blood samples collected on filter paper from 12,776 children were tested
using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Children whose serology was positive or undetermined (n = 41) were recalled to
donate a whole blood sample for retesting. Their homes were inspected for current triatomine infestation. Blood samples from their
respective mothers were also collected and tested to check possible transmission of the disease by a congenital route.
FINDINGS A seroprevalence rate of 0.24% for Trypanosoma cruzi infection was detected in children under five years of age
among the country’s rural population. Our findings indicate that T. cruzi was transmitted to these children vertically. The total
number of infected children, aged one to five years living in these departments, was estimated at 1,691 cases with an annual
incidence of congenital transmission of 338 cases per year.
MAIN CONCLUSION We determined the impact of vector control in the transmission of T. cruzi, following uninterrupted vector
control measures employed since 1999 in contiguous T. infestans-endemic areas of Paraguay, and this allowed us to estimate the
degree of risk of congenital transmission in the country.
Keywords
Chagas disease; domestic Triatoma infestans; Trypanosoma cruzi; interruption of transmission; seroprevalence
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