Produção Científica e Inovação Tecnológica em Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde

Abstract

Background. Beginning in 1978, a very high prevalence of human infection by Fasciola hepatica began to be documented in the Andean plateau of Bolivia, a country where the disease had never been reported. Materials and methods. Our goal is to present a chronological overview of the studies. The retrospective review highlights gray literature conducted before 1990 and research found in electronic databases from 1989. Results. It took over forty years to get an answer to the registry of Fasciola hepatica infection in humans with prevalence around 70%, so that through seven mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns they decreased to less than 2%; This chronological process of studies is presented in four successive periods: 1º period : Characterized by clinicalsurgical records of occasional patients treated in hospitals in the city of La Paz. 2º period (1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991): First coprological and serological surveys that record the hyper endemic and geographical area. 3º period (1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997): Epidemiological, parasitological, malacological studies, diagnostic tests, treatment, definition of the hyper endemic area and its surveillance. 4º period (2008-2020): MDA campaigns. Conclusions. The extensive collaborative research with the University of Valencia elucidated particular aspects of human infection at high altitude; describing the most important hyper endemic zone worldwide, motivating MDA campaigns with drug donations, allowing entering a pre-elimination stage, remaining to expand initiatives to improve drinking water, education, sanitation, hygiene and control and animal treatment.