Abstract

CHINCHILLA, MISAEL et al. CHAGAS DISEASE IN COSTA RICA: COMPARATIVE STUDY IN TWO DIFFERENT STAGES. Parasitol. latinoam. [online]. 2006, vol.61, n.3-4, pp. 138-145. ISSN 0717-7712.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-77122006000200007.

To bring a date the real situation of Chagas disease in Costa Rica, a partial serological and epidemiological study was done in four risk zones in this country. To achieve that, 1561 students 6 to 12 years old were studied for Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies presence by the ELISA technique. Once all the confirmatory tests were performed, 0.1% of seropositivity was detected in the student population. The study of 10% of houses of the corresponding random selected students, showed a 2.9% T. dimidiata infestation index and 9.3% of the insects were infected with T. cruzi. Comparing these data and the social and economic situation of Costa Rica in years 1980 and 2000, it is inferred that the improvement of the general conditions in Costa Rica, has decreased the Chagas disease incidence in this country

Keywords : Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; Epidemiologý; Costa Rica.