Usefulness of serology for the evaluation of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in endemic areas of Chagas' disease

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 119 - 124
• Main Authors: Chuit, R, Subias, E, Pérez, A C, Paulone, I, Wisnivesky-Colli, C, Segura, E L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.09.1989; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Argentina - epidemiology; Chagas Disease - epidemiology; Chagas Disease - prevention & control; Child; Child, Preschool; Culture media; Disease transmission; Estudo de campo; Female; Humans; Infant; Insecticides; Male; Prevenção e controle; Rural areas; Rural Health; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sorodiagnóstico; Transmissão de T. cruzi; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Vector-borne diseases; Argentina; Sorodiagnóstico; Estudo de campo; Prevention and control; Transmissão de T. cruzi; Prevenção e controle; Serodiagnosis; T. cruzi transmission; Field study
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86821989000300002

Thirteen communities from 7 Argentinian provinces were selected for the evaluation of serology as an indicator of transmission of Chagas disease. Of the communities appraised, 6 did not have a history of previous treatment with insecticides and 7 had received sporadic or continuous insecticide treatment. The inhabitants of 20% of the houses of each locality were studied by serology. The samples were obtained by finger pricking and 50 microliters of blood were mixed with 15 microliter of 50% glycerine solution in tissue culture media to be assayed by Indirect Hemagglutination and Indirect Immunofluorescence tests. In untreated areas, the prevalence of infection in infants 0-4 years old was 17.5%, reaching to over 22% for the 5-9 year old group, and to 33.3% in 10-14 year old individuals. The prevalence in treated and surveyed areas was 2.6% in 0-4 year old children, 5.4% in 5-9 year old and 6.2% in 10-14 year old youngsters. The differences between both areas were statistically significant (p less than 0.005). This study favors serology as a valid indicator for the evaluation of transmission of Chagas disease in rural areas.