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

• 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
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013-06-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Chagas disease; Indigenous population; Amazonian ecosystem; Peru
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822013000300367&lng=en&tlng=en

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.