Abstract

BAR, Maria Esther; OSCHEROV, Elena Beatriz; PIERI DAMBORSKY, Miryam  and  BORDA, Marcelo. Transversal study on Chagas´ disease in an endemic area of Corrientes Province, Argentina. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2010, vol.50, n.2, pp.219-232. ISSN 1690-4648.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate triatomine presence in domestic and extradomestic ecotopes, to determine the Triatoma infestans natural infection index and to estimate human seroprevalence to Trypanosoma cruzi. Samplings were performed in spring 2008 and summer- autumm 2009 in randomly selected households in rural areas of Department San Luis del Palmar, Corrientes Province, Argentina. Diagnosis of Chagas infection was performed combining Indirect Hemagglutination Test; Indirect Immunofluorescence Test and Indirect Immunoenzimatic assay on voluntary residents.Twenty seven human dwellings were analyzed and 29.6% (8/27) were infested by T. infestans. A total of 50 T. infestans of all age classes were collected and T. cruzi infection was confirmed in 7.0%. Only 20.8% (5/24) of the twenty four extradomestic ecotopes were positive and 157 T. sordida were captured, none of them were infected. Serological study of 163 human volunteers showed that 11.7% (19/163) were seroreactive, the prevalence observed in the 0 - 10 age group was 4.8%. At San Luis del Palmar the control actions are not successful, and although the T. infestans domestic infestation is mild, there is an active T. cruzi transmission of Chagas. These results show that the endemicity at this department is not low.

Keywords : Triatomines; Infestation; Trypanosoma cruzi; Seroprevalence.