Description of an oral Chagas disease outbreak in Venezuela, including a vertically transmitted case

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017 Aug;112(8):569-571. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760170009.

Abstract

We describe the eleventh major outbreak of foodborne Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in urban Venezuela, including evidence for vertical transmission from the index case to her fetus. After confirming fetal death at 24 weeks of gestation, pregnancy interruption was performed. On direct examination of the amniotic fluid, trypomastigotes were detected. T. cruzi specific-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) also proved positive when examining autopsied fetal organs. Finally, microscopic fetal heart examination revealed amastigote nests. Acute orally transmitted Chagas disease can be life threatening or even fatal for pregnant women and unborn fetuses owing to vertical transmission. There is therefore an urgent need to improve national epidemiologic control measures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Chagas Disease / complications
  • Chagas Disease / epidemiology
  • Chagas Disease / transmission*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Fetal Death / etiology*
  • Food Parasitology*
  • Foodborne Diseases / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrops Fetalis / parasitology
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pregnancy
  • Urban Population
  • Venezuela / epidemiology
  • Young Adult