Prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in women of childbearing age in Socotá, Boyacá, 2014

Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence and associated factors in women in Casanare-Colombia

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by triatomines and from mothers to children. In Colombia, this disease is a public health problem and due to its high endemicity and vertical transmission, women are susceptible populations that must be evaluated. Our objective was to determinate the Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence and factors associated with women in Pore (Municipality), Casanare, Colombia. Cross-sectional study. A sample of 230 healthy volunteer women, 15 years or older, without previous diagnosis of Chagas disease was taken; the serological analysis was done using the Chagas ELISA IgG and IgM and indirect Hemagglutination (HAI) technique. In addition, a survey was applied to each participant in order to explore the presence of factors that could be associated with a positive test result. The seropostitivity found in Pore Casanare's women was 16.9% (39/230, 95% CI 12.1-21.7), additionally it was found that rural origin, the coexistence with animals, especially chickens, age, low level schooling and housing material are factors associated with T. cruzi infection in this population. The results of this study indicate the importance of conducting extensive seroepidemiological studies in populations of endemic areas, due to the difficulty in detecting cases in the acute phase; therefore, screening allows the establishment of a follow-up and treatment time line that contributes to the interruption of the transmission vertical.

Biogeographical factors determining Triatoma recurva distribution in Chihuahua, México, 2014

INTRODUCTION

Triatoma recurva is a Trypanosoma cruzi vector whose distribution and biological development are determined by factors that may influence the transmission of trypanosomiasis to humans.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the potential spatial distribution of Triatoma recurve, as well as social factors determining its presence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the MaxEnt software to construct ecological niche models while bioclimatic variables (WorldClim) were derived from the monthly values of temperature and precipitation to generate biologically significant variables. The resulting cartography was interpreted as suitable areas for T. recurva presence.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the precipitation during the driest month (Bio 14), the maximum temperature during the warmest month (Bio 5), and the altitude (Alt) and mean temperature during the driest quarter (Bio 9) determined T. recurva distribution area at a higher percentage evidencing its strong relationship with domestic and surrounding structures.

CONCLUSIONS

This methodology can be used in other geographical contexts to locate potential sampling sites where these triatomines occur.

Prevalence of Chagas disease in Colombia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Despite the adoption of campaigns to interrupt the main vector and to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in blood banks, millions of people are still chronically infected; however, the prevalence data are limited, and the epidemiology of Chagas disease has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Chagas disease in Colombia.

Methods

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted to select all observational studies reporting the prevalence of Chagas disease in Colombia, based on serological diagnosis in participants of any age and published between January 2007 and November 2017. Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. In addition, the I² statistic was calculated.

Results

The literature search yielded a total of 1,510 studies; sixteen articles with relevant prevalence data were included in the systematic review. Of these, only 12 articles were included for entry in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of Chagas disease across studies was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0–4.0). A high degree of heterogeneity was found among studies (I² > 75%; p < 0.001). The publication bias was not statistically significant (Egger’s test, p = 0.078). The highest pooled prevalences were found in the adult population (3.0%, 95% CI: 1.0–4.0), pregnant women (3.0%, 95% CI: 3.0–4.0) and the Orinoco region (7.0%, 95% CI: 2.2–12.6).

Conclusions

The results indicate that the T. cruzi-infected population is aging, the adult population, pregnant women and that the Orinoco region (department of Casanare) have the highest prevalences. These results highlight the need to maintain screening and surveillance programs to identify people with chronic T. cruzi infections.