Situação atual da doença de Chagas na Guiana Francesa

Abstract

Localizada entre dois focos endêmicos da doença de Chagas, a Venezuela e o Brasil, a Guiana Francesa conheceu poucos casos dessa afecção de 1940 até 1956. Um inquérito sorológico, utilizando-se uma pesquisa ativa sobre pacientes cardiopáticos e uma pesquisa passiva, permitiu evidenciar a existência de dois casos autóctones. Apesar da presença de vetores domésticos, o risco da doença de Chagas na Guiana Francesa parece limitado à aparição episódica de escassos casos humanos.

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in French Guiana

“…Such a seroprevalence is 1.75 times higher than that previously observed in French Guiana (Esterre & Dedet 1987), and is similar to seroprevalence levels recorded for children in Brazil and Uruguay prior to the Southern Cone Initiative against Chagas disease (WHO 1997, 1998, Schofield & Dias 1999.…”

“…In French Guiana, only 17 clinical cases of Chagas disease have been reported since 1939 (Floch & Tasque 1940, Beaudet et al 1985, Esterre & Dedet 1987, including four cases of acute chagasic myocarditis diagnosed between 1994 and 1996 (Carme et al 2001a). A serological study conducted in [1983][1984][1985], using an indirect immunofluorescence test, showed that only one of 301 individuals (0.3%) had antibodies to T. cruzi (Esterre & Dedet 1987).…”

“…A serological study conducted in [1983][1984][1985], using an indirect immunofluorescence test, showed that only one of 301 individuals (0.3%) had antibodies to T. cruzi (Esterre & Dedet 1987). We present here a cross-sectional study designed to assess the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in various areas of French Guiana.…”