Surveillance of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission by serological screening schoolchildren
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1992
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The seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among children is a sensitive indicator for assessing
the effectiveness of programmes for control of Chagas disease. In this study we report the result of
a cross-sectional serological survey carried out among schoolchildren living in a poor rural area in central
Brazil. Eluates of blood collected on filter-paper were tested for anti-T. cruzi antibodies using immunofluorescence,
haemagglutination, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The overall seroprevalence
of T. cruzi infection was 7.9%, which compared with the findings of the national survey carried out
in 1975-80 indicates that a twofold-to-threefold reduction in prevalence has occurred over the last 10
years. This is consistent with a reduction of transmission in the area, probably related to vector control
efforts. Based on our results, the incidence of new cases was estimated to be 44 per annum in the
study region. In rural areas with a scattered population, surveillance of T. cruzi transmission by serological
screening of children at school entry is more practical and economical than entomological evaluation
for assessing both the risk of transmission in the community and the efficacy of vector control
measures. A sample size of around 1000 schoolchildren is sufficient to detect prevalences as low as
2%, and such an approach would be practical and applicable to most areas where Chagas disease is
endemic.
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ANDRADE, A. L. S. S.; ZICKER, F.; LUQUETTI, A. O.; OLIVEIRA, R. M.; SILVA, S. A.; SOUSA, J. M. P.; MARTELLI, C. M. T. Surveillance of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission by serological screening schoolchildren. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Washington, v. 70, n. 5, p. 625-629, 1992.