Description of an oral Chagas disease outbreak in Venezuela, including a vertically transmitted case

Abstract

We describe the eleventh major outbreak of foodborne Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in urban Venezuela, including evidence for vertical transmission from the index case to her fetus. After confirming fetal death at 24 weeks of gestation, pregnancy interruption was performed. On direct examination of the amniotic fluid, trypomastigotes were detected. T. cruzi specific-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) also proved positive when examining autopsied fetal organs. Finally, microscopic fetal heart examination revealed amastigote nests. Acute orally transmitted Chagas disease can be life threatening or even fatal for pregnant women and unborn fetuses owing to vertical transmission. There is therefore an urgent need to improve national epidemiologic control measures.

Efficacy and safety assessment of different dosage of benznidazol for the treatment of Chagas disease in chronic phase in adults (MULTIBENZ study): study protocol for a multicenter randomized Phase II superiority clinical trial

“…CD has also become a rising health problem in nonendemic countries because of international migration, and nonvectorial transmission can occur trhough blood transfusion, organ transplant, and congenital infection [2,3]. In addition, orally transmitted CD has been detected in endemic areas because of food carrying either infected Triatominae insects or their feces [4].…”

Heterogeneity of Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates in vectors and animal reservoirs in Colombia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…With regard to rodents, the importance of these animals as T. cruzi reservoirs includes their ability to maintain the parasite for long periods of time [53]. Additionally, it has been suggested that rodents act as secondary reservoirs in both domestic and sylvatic habitats where they can play a role in the oral transmission route as part of the food chain to larger predators [18, 54, 55].…”

Infección por Trypanosoma cruzi en mujeres puérperas y sus neonatos en Barcelona, estado Anzoátegui, Venezuela

“…De los trabajos recientes en Venezuela en los cuales se menciona la transmisión congénita por T . cruzi , es importante destacar la demostración anatomopatológica del parásito por Alarcón de Noya, et al 19 , en la autopsia de un feto de 24 semanas de gestación proveniente de una madre infectada por T. cruzi , posiblemente por vía oral.…”