title: Household risk factors for Trypanosoma cruzi seropositivity in two geographic regions of Ecuador.
abstract: Few studies on the relationship between environmental factors and Trypanosoma cruzi transmission have been conducted in Ecuador. We conducted a cross-sectional study of household risk factors for T. cruzi seropositivity in 2 distinct geographical regions of Ecuador. Exposure information was collected via household surveys, and subjects were tested for serological evidence of T. cruzi infection. In total, 3,286 subjects from 997 households were included. In the coastal region, factors associated with seropositivity were living in a house with a palm roof (odds ratio [OR] = 2.63, 95% confidence interval, [1.61. 4.27]), wood walls (OR = 5.75 [2.04, 16.18]), or cane walls (OR = 2.81 11.31, 6.04]), and the presence of firewood in the peridomicile (OR = 2.48 [1.54, 4.01]). Accumulation of trash outside the home was associated with a reduced risk of seropositivity (OR = 0.25 [0.12, 0.51]). In the Andean region, living in a house with adobe walls was the only factor predictive of T. cruzi seropositivity. In conclusion, risk factors for T. cruzi transmission in Ecuador varied by geographic region, probably because of differing behavior of the triatomine vector species in each region. An understanding of the transmission dynamics of T. cruzi in a particular area is necessary for the development of effective Chagas disease control strategies in those areas.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA.
authors: Carla L
authors: CL
authors: Black
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Ocaña
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Riner
authors: Jaime A
authors: JA
authors: Costales
authors: Mauricio S
authors: MS
authors: Lascano
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Davila
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Arcos-Teran
authors: J Richard
authors: JR
authors: Seed
authors: Mario J
authors: MJ
authors: Grijalva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000145:classification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D006798:Housing / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014225:Triatominae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan