Household Infestation Rates of Chagas Disease Vectors and Trypanosoma cruzi Prevalence in Southern Ecuador

Abstract

Chagas disease affects an estimated 10 million people across its endemic regions in Central and South America. The disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The most common vectors for transmission of T. cruzi, and thus Chagas disease, are members of the Triatominae subfamily. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of triatomines within 13 rural communities of Loja Province in Ecuador as well as to determine the seropositivity for T. cruzi of residents within the communities.