Congenital Chagas disease: alert of research negligence

Abstract

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD), a neglected endemic disease in Latin America, has acquired new epidemiological characteristics with an increase in the importance of alternative transmission routes such as congenital transmission. We evaluated the scientific research on this subject. Methods: We searched the Scielo, BVS, and PubMed databases from 2006 to 2017. Results: We identified a small number of published articles, mostly in journals with an impact factor less than 3.0. Studies on human congenital transmission of CD were carried out in only seven different countries. Conclusions: Our data highlight the lack of research on congenital CD.

Seroprevalence of Chagas disease in urban and rural indigenous populations of the south of Gran Chaco

“…The high seroprevalence found in women of childbearing age highlights the importance of campaigns for the detection and early treatment of congenitally infected newborns, as congenital transmission has been shown to be of increasing epidemiological importance 10,19,20 . The specific etiological treatment for women of childbearing potential has also been identified as the only effective form of prevention of congenital transmission [21][22][23] .…”

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi in pregnant women in Midwest Brazil: an evaluation of congenital transmission

“…Serological screening for T. cruzi infection in the prenatal care has not yet been implemented at the national level. Consequently, due to the poor monitoring of pregnant women and their children especially in endemic regions, many cases of congenital transmission might be underreported and neglected in Brazil 12 .…”

“…Early diagnosis and treatment of the newborn are essential to reduce the risk of developing disabling chronic conditions 11 . Due to the non-inclusion of T. cruzi diagnosis in the prenatal serological screening in several Brazilian regions, asymptomatic cases of congenital transmission may be underestimated and consequently neglected 12 .…”

Antígeno nativo y no nativo para determinar la seroprevalencia de Trypanosoma cruzi en mujeres embarazadas en el estado de Morelos, México

“…La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) clasifica a la EC como una enfermedad tropical desatendida 3 . En el mundo se reportan cada año 41.000 casos nuevos y 12.000 muertes; sólo en América se calculan entre 6-7 millones de personas infectadas, incluyendo dos millones de mujeres en edad reproductiva [4][5][6] y estas últimas son consideradas como potenciales transmisores de infección congénita.…”