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. 2018 Oct 11;3(5):e001069.
doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001069. eCollection 2018.

The burden of congenital Chagas disease and implementation of molecular diagnostic tools in Latin America

Albert Picado  1 , Israel Cruz  1 , Maël Redard-Jacot  1 , Alejandro G Schijman  2 , Faustino Torrico  3   4 , Sergio Sosa-Estani  5   6 , Zachary Katz  1 , Joseph Mathu Ndung'u  1
Affiliations

The burden of congenital Chagas disease and implementation of molecular diagnostic tools in Latin America

Albert Picado et al. BMJ Glob Health. .

Abstract

It is estimated that between 8000 and 15 000 Trypanosoma cruzi infected babies are born every year to infected mothers in Chagas disease endemic countries. Currently, poor access to and performance of the current diagnostic algorithm, based on microscopy at birth and serology at 8-12 months after delivery, is one of the barriers to congenital Chagas disease (CCD) control. Detection of parasite DNA using molecular diagnostic tools could be an alternative or complement to current diagnostic methods, but its implementation in endemic regions remains limited. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of CCD cases would have a positive clinical and epidemiological impact. In this paper, we analysed the burden of CCD in Latin America, and the potential use of molecular tests to improve access to early diagnosis and treatment of T. cruzi infected newborns.

Keywords: LAMP; PCR; Trypanosoma cruzi; chagas disease; molecular tools.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: AP, IC, MR-J, ZK and JMN are employees of the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). FIND contributed to the development of the Loopamp Trypanosoma cruzi Detection Kit. However, FIND does not have any financial interest in the product. The other authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated number of infants born to T. cruzi-infected mothers who should have been tested for congenital Chagas disease in 2010 in Latin American countries. The minimum and maximum number of babies that would need to be tested per country are presented. The estimates are presented in detail in table 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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