Enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza: seroprevalencia, características epidemiológicas y sociales

the chagas-mazza' disease is a parasitic disease caused by a flagellate protozoan, trypanosoma cruzi. it is a pathology characteristic of latin america and currently have over 20 million people infected all over the world. the objectives of this study were: to state the prevalence in patients with chagas-mazza ' disease infection application and to evaluate the epidemiological and social situation of the affected population. the work is prospective, observational, and covers the period july 2006 to july 2008. were used as diagnostic techniques on serum samples: indirect hemagglutination (iha chagatest, wiener lab), enzyme immunoassay (elisa chagatest wiener lab v 3.0), immunofluorescence (ifi with their own reagents, antigens and controls using the national institute of parasitology "dr. mario fatala chabén"). those samples were considered positive with which a positive result was obtained in two of the three techniques. to optimize the collection of epidemiological data used a multidisciplinary approach, involving physicians who requested the study to the board of epidemiology, social work service and laboratory. we obtained a seroprevalence of 11.4% over the period studied, with the following distribution by country of birth: 47.8% argentina, 43.5% bolivia, 8.3% paraguay and 0.4% chile. highlights the importance of migratory phenomena in the region, understanding that chagas-mazza' disease is a form of social mobilization. in 60.4% have unmet basic needs, only 30% of respondents have completed primary education. regarding the perception of pathology is observed acceptance of the disease in reference to that suffered by their parents, other family members or relatives.