[Probable outbreak of oral transmission of Chagas disease in Turbo, Antioquia]. / Probable brote de transmisión oral de enfermedad de Chagas en Turbo, Antioquia.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas' disease is endemic in 21 countries of South and Central America, including Colombia, where 700,000 to 1.2 million persons are infected and eight millions are at risk. In endemic areas, chronic cases are predominant. However, in recent years, increasing reports of acute oral transmission have appeared. Objective. An outbreak of acute Chagas' disease was verified in the municipality of Turbo (Antioquia), and the most probable cause of transmission was determined in order to establish prevention and control measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was done. A search for information from local health authorities was conducted to uncover all case reports. Laboratory tests, risk factor analysis and search for vectors and reservoirs were undertaken in Turbo. RESULTS: Of the 156 people evaluated, 11 cases of acute Chagas' disease were identified. Ten had significant titers of IgM and IgG antibodies against the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite by IFAT and Elisa tests; one fatal case was linked epidemiologically. In 3 cases, PCR was positive for T. cruzi, two of which displayed Chagas cardiomyopathy, and one with acute fever. Four cases required specialized health care for acute cardiomyopathy. All positive cases had a common source of food. One specimen of the triatomid vector species, Panstrongylus geniculatus, and one reservoir, the woolly opossum Caluromys lanatus, were collected; both were negative to T. cruzi. CONCLUSIONS: An outbreak of acute Chagas' disease occurred in Turbo, Antioquia. The mode of transmission may have occurred by the ingestion of T. cruzi-contaminated food by infected triatomines or opossum feces.

Probable brote de transmisión oral de enfermedad de Chagas en Turbo, Antioquia / Probable outbreak of oral transmission of Chagas disease in Turbo, Antioquia

Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es endémica en 21 países de América, incluyendo a Colombia, donde 700.000 a 1’200.000 personas se encuentran infectadas y ocho millones están en riesgo. En las áreas endémicas predominan los casos crónicos infectados por vía vectorial. Sin embargo, en los últimos años se han incrementado los reportes de casos agudos ocurridos por transmisión oral. Objetivos. Describir un brote agudo de enfermedad de Chagas en Turbo (Antioquia) y determinar la posible forma de transmisión para establecer mecanismos de prevención y control. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio descriptivo. Se verificó la documentación del diagnóstico en los casos y se hizo búsqueda activa de pacientes sintomáticos y de los contactos; se realizaron pruebas de laboratorio, identificación de factores de riesgo y búsqueda de reservorios y vectores. Resultados. Se evaluaron 156 personas, y se identificaron 11 casos agudos de enfermedad de Chagas, 10 con títulos de anticuerpos IgM e IgG contra Trypanosoma cruzi por IFI y ELISA, y un caso fallecido, asociado epidemiológicamente. En tres personas, la PCR para T. cruzi fue positiva, dos de ellas con miocardiopatía y otra con síndrome febril agudo. Cuatro casos requirieron manejo en hospital de tercer nivel por miocardiopatía aguda. Todos los casos positivos tenían fuente común de alimentación. Se recolectó un ejemplar de Panstrongylus geniculatus y uno de Caluromys lanatus, ambos negativos para T. cruzi. Conclusión. Se identificó un probable brote agudo de enfermedad de Chagas en Antioquia y se plantea como hipótesis la transmisión por vía oral, mediante la ingestión de T. cruzi en alimentos contaminados con restos de triatominos o excrementos de marsupiales.

Introduction. Chagas’ disease is endemic in 21 countries of South and Central America, including Colombia, where 700,000 to 1.2 million persons are infected and eight millions are at risk. In endemic areas, chronic cases are predominant. However, in recent years, increasing reports of acute oral transmission have appeared. Objective. An outbreak of acute Chagas’ disease was verified in the municipality of Turbo (Antioquia), and the most probable cause of transmission was determined in order to establish prevention and control measures. Materials and methods. A descriptive study was done. A search for information from local health authorities was conducted to uncover all case reports. Laboratory tests, risk factor analysis and search for vectors and reservoirs were undertaken in Turbo. Results. Of the156 people evaluated, 11 cases of acute Chagas’ disease were identified. Ten had significant titers of IgM and IgG antibodies against the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite by IFAT and Elisa tests; one fatal case was linked epidemiologically. In 3 cases, PCR was positive for T. cruzi, two of which displayed Chagas cardiomyopathy, and one with acute fever. Four cases required specialized health care for acute cardiomyopathy. All positive cases had a common source of food. One specimen of the triatomid vector species, Panstrongylus geniculatus, and one reservoir, the woolly opossum Caluromys lanatus, were collected; both were negative to T. cruzi. Conclusions. An outbreak of acute Chagas’ disease occurred in Turbo, Antioquia. The mode of transmission may have occurred by the ingestion of T. cruzi-contaminated food by infected triatomines or opossum feces.