Epidemiology of Chagas Disease in Ecuador. A Brief Review

Chagas disease is a complex public health problem that has been underestimated in Ecuador. Here we review the relevant published information, and present unpublished and new data that help to understand the current Chagas disease epidemiological situation and its evolution in the country. Three main...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1999-09, Vol.94 (suppl 1), p.387-393
Main Authors: Aguilar V, H Marcelo, Abad-Franch, Fernando, Racines V, José, Paucar C, Aura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Chagas disease
Chagas disease - Ecuador - epidemiology - Triatominae - prevalence - clinical traits - review
Chagas Disease - epidemiology
Chagas Disease - parasitology
clinical traits
Ecuador
Ecuador - epidemiology
epidemiology
Humans
Insect Vectors
PARASITOLOGY
prevalence
review
Triatominae
TROPICAL MEDICINE
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Summary:Chagas disease is a complex public health problem that has been underestimated in Ecuador. Here we review the relevant published information, and present unpublished and new data that help to understand the current Chagas disease epidemiological situation and its evolution in the country. Three main characteristics have been identified: (i) persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in already known foci; (ii) a marked endemicity in some urban areas of Guayaquil; and (iii) the transformation of new Amazon foci into truly endemic areas. The situation in other suspect areas remains uncertain. Five Triatominae species have been implicated in the transmission of T. cruzi to people in Ecuador (Triatoma dimidiata, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis, R. pictipes, R. robustus and Panstrongylus geniculatus), but some others may also play a role in some areas (P. rufotuberculatus, P. howardi, T. carrioni and P. chinai). Other Triatominae reported seem to have little or no epidemiological relevance (T. venosa, T. dispar, Eratyrus mucronatus, E. cuspidatus, P. lignarius and Cavernicola pilosa). High frequency of acute cases and severe chronic disease has been observed. Although cardiomyopathy is more frequent, serious digestive disease is also present. It is estimated that around 120,000-200,000 people may be infected. 2.2 to 3.8 million people are estimated to live under transmission risk conditions.
ISSN:1678-8060
0074-0276
0074-0276
1678-8060
DOI:10.1590/s0074-02761999000700076