[Seroprevalence of Chagas disease in Aguarico canton in the Ecuadorian Amazon].
OBJECTIVE
Determine the current seroprevalence of Chagas disease in the population of Aguarico canton, and compare the findings with data from other epidemiological studies.


METHODS
From September 2008 to October 2009, 2 033 serum samples were collected from 36.6% of the total population in Aguarico canton. The Chagatest recombinant ELISA v.3.0 was used to determine positivity to Chagas disease. Cases that tested positive were confirmed by indirect hemagglutination and ELISA.


RESULTS
Of the 2 033 serum samples obtained, 73 tested positive for Chagas disease (3.6%). Seroprevalence in communities with positive cases ranged from 1.4% to 13.3%, with 60.3% of the positive cases found in females. These findings are similar to the 1990 comparison studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The data obtained confirm the existence of an indigenous focus of Chagas disease in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with a percentage higher that the average for the Amazon region. No acute clinical cases or chronic pathologies were detected. Implementation of a culturally appropriate Chagas control program for the region is urgently needed.
Amunárriz
Manuel
M
Hospital Franklin Tello, Nuevo Rocafuerte, Orellana, Ecuador. mamunarrizu01@yahoo.es
Quito
Segundo
S
Tandazo
Víctor
V
López
Mayra
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult