Escalante-Pérez Iván A, Alviares Ana A, Omaña-Ávila Óscar D, Carrión-Nessi Fhabián S, Mendoza-Millán Daniela L, Erimee-Vieira Grecia de J, Contreras-Rengifo Juan M, Sande-Mujica Vanessa C, de Marchis-Vento Mariana de J, Gebran-Chedid Karim J, Dubuc-Ponte Mario A, Castro-Betancourt Daniela I, Fuentes-Fiore Vittoria F, Molina-Mendoza Rachell A, Loreto-Rodrigues Alejandro M, Gomes-González Juan C, Mauriello Luciano, Moronta Eyleen, Alarcón de Noya Belkisyolé, Díaz-Bello Zoraida, Forero-Peña David A
"Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
Vive Más Foundation, "Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
Parasit Vectors. 2025 Jun 8;18(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06846-4.
Chagas disease (CD) is endemic in 21 Latin American countries, placing approximately 75 million people at risk of infection. In Venezuela, CD has been recognized since 1919, with seroprevalence estimates reaching up to 45% between 1958 and 1968. However, current data on the epidemiology of CD in Venezuela are limited.
We conducted a cross-sectional study in September 2023 in Guanare municipality, located in northwestern Portuguesa state. Seroprevalence was determined by detecting anti-Trypanosoma cruzi IgG antibodies and assessing specific-IgG avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, we evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding CD in the region.
A total of 388 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 29 (standard deviation [SD] = 21) years; 67% (n = 260) were female. Seven individuals, aged between 62 and 75 years, tested positive for T. cruzi, yielding an estimated seroprevalence of 2%. Among these ELISA-confirmed cases, the majority were men (71%, n = 5) with a mean age of 67 (SD = 5) years. Their occupations included construction work (42%, n = 3), farming (29%, n = 2), and housekeeping (29%, n = 2). In the KAP survey, 28% of respondents reported having a family member with CD, and 39% recalled observing the insect vector in their homes. Notably, 83% were aware that CD is transmitted by an insect vector. Although over 70% expressed positive attitudes toward educational initiatives and indicated willingness to collaborate with health services for prompt diagnosis and vector elimination, more than 80% reported inadequate vector control practices.
The seroprevalence of CD in the Guanare population was 2%, with all positive cases occurring in individuals over 60 years of age, suggesting an absence of active transmission in the area. While community knowledge and attitudes regarding CD were generally favorable, vector control practices were suboptimal. Future studies employing probabilistic sampling across various regions of the state are needed to further elucidate the epidemiology of CD in Venezuela.
恰加斯病（CD）在21个拉丁美洲国家呈地方性流行，约7500万人面临感染风险。在委内瑞拉，自1919年以来就已确认存在恰加斯病，1958年至1968年间血清阳性率估计高达45%。然而，目前委内瑞拉恰加斯病流行病学的数据有限。
2023年9月，我们在位于葡萄牙州西北部的瓜纳雷市开展了一项横断面研究。通过检测抗克鲁斯锥虫IgG抗体并评估特异性IgG亲和力酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）来确定血清阳性率。此外，我们评估了该地区关于恰加斯病的知识、态度和行为（KAP）。
共招募了388名参与者，平均年龄为29岁（标准差[SD]=21）；67%（n=260）为女性。7名年龄在62岁至75岁之间的个体克鲁斯锥虫检测呈阳性，估计血清阳性率为2%。在这些ELISA确诊病例中，大多数为男性（71%，n=5），平均年龄为67岁（SD=5）。他们的职业包括建筑工作（42%，n=3）、务农（29%，n=2）和家政服务（29%，n=2）。在KAP调查中，28%的受访者报告有家庭成员患有恰加斯病，39%的人回忆起在家中看到过昆虫媒介。值得注意的是，83%的人知道恰加斯病是由昆虫媒介传播的。尽管超过70%的人对教育倡议持积极态度，并表示愿意与卫生服务部门合作以进行快速诊断和消除病媒，但超过80%的人报告病媒控制措施不力。
瓜纳雷人群中恰加斯病的血清阳性率为2%，所有阳性病例均发生在60岁以上的个体中，这表明该地区不存在活跃传播。虽然社区对恰加斯病的知识和态度总体上是积极的，但病媒控制措施并不理想。未来需要在该州不同地区采用概率抽样进行研究，以进一步阐明委内瑞拉恰加斯病的流行病学情况。
