CHAGAS-DISEASE IN ECUADOR - EVIDENCE FOR DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN AN INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE AMAZON REGION

Two well-defined synthetic peptides TcD and PEP2 were used in a sero-e pidemiological study for the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi infections in an indigenous group in the Amazon region of Ecuador. Of the 18 com munities studied along the Rio Nape, province of Napo, 15 (83.3%) were found to be positive for T. cruzi infection. Of the 1,011 individuals examined 61 (6.03%) resulted positive. A prevalence of infection of 4 .8% was found in children aged 1-5 years. The prevalence of infection increased with age, with adults 50 years or older showing a maximum pr evalence of 18.8%. Autochthonous transmission of T. cruzi is present a mong this isolated indigenous population.