Epidemiology of Chagas disease in Ecuador. A brief review

Abstract

Chagas disease is a complex public health problem that has been underestimated in Ecuador

Chagas disease: morbidity profile in an endemic area of Northeastern Brazil

“…However, lower morbidity rates are observed in other endemic regions of Latin America (40) (41) . In the present study, cardiomegaly was exclusively present with the cardiac and cardiodigestive forms,which is in agreement with previously reported data (42) (43) .…”

Epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Ecuador: current status of knowledge - A review

“…Another study also showed high ELISA-rate positivity using antigens of L. (V.) panamensis and guyanensis in 12/17 dogs from Alausi and 12/20 from the Pacific region (Mori et al 1994). These results showed high reactivity for ELISA but careful attention must be paid on the cross-reactivity (false-positives) where Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic as is in lowlands of Ecuador (Aguilar et al 1999). The positive samples should be confirmed parasitologically and characterized, even that, it does not distinguish whether dogs are accidental or reservoir hosts, dogs seems to be a victim-host as humans are.…”

Ecological aspects of Rhodnius nasutus Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in palms of the Chapada do Araripe in Ceará, Brazil

“…Together with PCDCh records, these findings demonstrate the importance of the area for sylvatic T. cruzi transmission. In addition to domestic colonisation by triatomines (Martins 1968), alternative forms of T. cruzi transmission, such as house invasion without colonisation as reported from the Brazilian Amazon (Coura et al 1994) and Ecuador (Aguilar et al 1999) should be investigated to improve epidemiological vigilance of Chagas disease in Chapada do Araripe, as proposed by Sarquis et al (2004).…”