title: A national survey to determine prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among pregnant women in Ecuador.
abstract: A nationwide survey was conducted to obtain an estimate of Chagas disease prevalence among pregnant women in Ecuador. As part of a national probability sample, 5,420 women seeking care for delivery or miscarriage at 15 healthcare facilities were recruited into the study. A small minority of participants reported knowing about Chagas disease or recognized the vector. A national seroprevalence of 0.1% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.0-0.2%) was found; cases were concentrated in the coastal region (seroprevalence = 0.2%; 95% CI = 0.0-0.4%). No cases of transmission to neonates were identified in the sample. Seropositive participants were referred to the National Chagas Program for evaluation and treatment. Additional studies are necessary to determine if areas of higher prevalence exist in well-known endemic provinces and guide the development of a national strategy for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of Chagas disease in Ecuador.
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Jaime A
authors: JA
authors: Costales
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Amaya
authors: A
authors: Sánchez-Gómez
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Luis C
authors: LC
authors: Silva-Aycaguer
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Cevallos
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Tamayo
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: César A
authors: CA
authors: Yumiseva
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Jerry O
authors: JO
authors: Jacobson
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Luiggi
authors: L
authors: Martini
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors: Caty A
authors: CA
authors: Carrera
authors: Center for Infectious Disease Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Pan American Health Organization, Quito, Ecuador; National School of Public Health, Havana, Cuba; National STI/HIV-AIDS Program, Ministry of Public Health, Quito, Ecuador; Pan-American Health Organization, Bogotá, Colombia; Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador; Biomedical Center, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio grijalva@ohio.edu.
authors: Mario J
authors: MJ
authors: Grijalva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification