New focus of active transmission of Chagas disease in indigenous populations in the Peruvian Amazon basin

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Rufino Cabrera, Silvia Vega, Yadira Valderrama, Karina Cabanillas, Connie Fernandez, Omar Rodriguez, Cesar Del Aguila, Jesus Hernandez, Leonardo Mendoza, Juan Ramon Meza
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013
• Subjects: Chagas disease; Indigenous population; Amazonian ecosystem; Peru; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-1195-2013; https://doaj.org/article/e668a336a90b45539f2a32602f60542a

Introduction Several cases of acute Chagas disease (ACD) have been reported in the Peruvian Amazon basin. Methods The objective was to describe and investigate 6 ACD cases in children from indigenous Amazon communities in the province of Datem del Marañón in Loreto department (2006-2010). Results The mean age was 3.6 years. All patients had fever, 4/6 hepatomegaly, 2/6 splenomegaly, and 5/6 had trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi on thick smears. The fatality rate was 33.3%. Rhodnius pictipes and Rhodnius robustus adults were found inside the homes and in the peri-domiciles. Conclusions All cases reported were isolated cases. We report a new focus of ACD in indigenous populations.