Abstract

MORETTI, Edgardo. Chagas: aportes sobre aspectos de una endemia silenciosa y silenciada. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2023, vol.57, n.1, pp.89-98. ISSN 0325-2957.

Chagas disease is an endemic disease that affects Latin America with high biomedical and social impact. This work addresses aspects and particularities that characterise this disease. It is a unique case in medicine as the microorganism was discovered before the disease it causes. The re-discovery of its relevance had its origin in Argentina, due to studies conducted by Salvador Mazza and collaborators from various provinces, within the Mission of Regional Pathology Studies from Argentina (MEPRA). Notwithstanding its importance, it is often described as “forgotten endemic disease”, “silent disease”, “hidden illness”, and it is included among the “neglected diseases”. Originally considered as rural endemic, nowadays it is urbanised and globalised, due to migrations and inter-human propagation, mainly by mother-child transmission. On the other hand, oral transmission is considered now of epidemiological relevance. Laboratory diagnosis is protocolised and it is possible to carry it out even in low complexity laboratories. Concerning disease prevention, interrupting the epidemiological chain that includes domestic reservoirs is a strategy that can contribute to reducing the infection in areas where it is vector-borne. Vaccination with Trypanosoma rangeli, a parasite immunologically similar to Trypanosoma cruzi but which is nonpathogenic, has demonstrated its efficacy in protecting dogs and guinea pigs against T. cruzi infection. Basso et al. have studied the importance of innate immunity, in addition to the classic adaptive immunity. Finally, this article addresses academic, social and bioethical aspects, emphasizing the importance of an adequate education in the health science field, as well as the need to guarantee bioethical principles and values regarding vulnerable populations.

Keywords : Chagas; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma rangeli; Neglected diseases; Diagnostic Chagas; Chagas reservoirs; Chagas vaccination; Chagas: social and bioethical aspects; Chagas education.

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