Abstract

CHASSAGNADE, Myrian et al. Epidemiología de la enfermedad de Chagas en áreas programáticas de ocho efectores de salud municipal de la ciudad de Río Cuarto. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2004, vol.102, n.6, pp.425-430. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Chagas’ disease affects 18 million people and domestic animals in Central and South America. The objectives of this study were: a) to identify anti-Tripanosoma cruzi antibodies in human and canine serum samples; b) to determine the prevalence of Chagas’ disease, and c) to determine the frequency of risk factors related to this population in the surveyed area. Population, material & methods. 466 individuals and 248 dogs were studied between March 2000 and December 2001. People attending to the primary care centers and who lived in their respective programmatic areas, as well as dogs living with the patients’ families, were included. People not living in the programmatic areas and vagabond dogs were excluded. Indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and direct agglutination with or without 2-mercaptoethanol were used to detect anti-Tripanosoma cruzi antibodies. A domiciliary survey was performed in order to obtain demographic data and information about the households and their surrounding environment, and to assess general knowledge about the disease. Results. 466 patients from 160 families were included. 45.1% were children aged 0 to 14 years; all were seronegative. 6.25% of the adults were seropositive. 70% of the households were medium buildings, and 35% had poultry yards, firewoods stacks and stockyards. Prevalence of dogs was of 6.06%. 8.93% of 56 Triatoma infestants analyzed were positive for T. cruzi. Conclusion. All the children studied were seronegative. The prevalence found in adults and domestic dogs was consistent with that reported in other studies conducted in nearby areas. Population, housing and domiciliary environment are correlated with families at risk of Chagas’ disease.

Keywords : Chagas’ disease; Human beings; Dogs; Epidemiology.

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