Diagnosis of Acute Chagas Disease in a Belizean Child with Evidence of a Multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Nov 14;107(5):992-995. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0338. Print 2022 Nov 14.ABSTRACTIn January 2020, we instituted acute febrile illness surveillance in 11 hospitals and clinics across Belize. Within 3 months, we diagnosed an acute case of Chagas disease by polymerase chain reaction in a 7-year-old child in the northern part of the country. Phylogenetic analyses of the parasite from the acute blood specimen revealed a multiclonal Trypanosoma cruzi infection, including parasites from the TcII (25.0% of haplotypes), TcIV (2.5% of haplotypes), and TcV (72.5% of haplotypes) discrete typing units. The family reported no history of travel, and three Triatoma species vectors were found within the home. The child's mother was seronegative for antibodies to T. cruzi, ruling out congenital transmission. Convalescent blood samples documented seroconversion and confirmed acute infection. The child was successfully treated with nifurtimox. This is the first known diagnosed case of acute Chagas infection in Belize, highlighting the need for further investigation and public health prevention measures.PMID:36395748 | DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.22-0338
Source: Am J Trop Med Hyg - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kristy O Murray Miguel A Salda ña Sarah M Gunter Russell Manzanero Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez Claudia Herrera Julie M Thompson Adrianna Maliga Kim Bautista Allison Lino Ella Hawes Shannon E Ronca Francis Morey Rafael Chacon Fuentes Beatriz Lopez Eric Dumo Source Type: research