Identifying health centers in Honduras infested with Rhodnius prolixus using the seroprevalence of Chagas disease in children younger than 13 years

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine if a Chagas disease protocol starting with a serological survey is as reliable at identifying insect-infested areas as one using the gold standard entomological survey. The study found that health center areas infested with Rhodnius prolixus were identified using a threshold seroprevalence of 0.1%. The serological survey took half the time and was 30% less expensive than the entomological survey. Developing countries with limited resources may find this strategy useful in combating Chagas disease. This strategy also identifies seropositive children, which facilitates their treatment. Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.