Epidemiological indicators of Chagas disease in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 56; p. e0185
• Main Authors: Lanza, Fernanda Cardoso, Ribeiro-Jr, Gilmar, Miranda, Diego Lopes Paim, Santos, Fred Luciano Neves, Carvalho, Cristiane Medeiros Moraes de, Cunha, Gabriel Muricy, Carneiro, Ianei de Oliveira, Reis, Renato Barbosa, Cunha, José Maurício Albuquerque, Cardoso, Cristiane Wanderley, Soares, Jorgana Fernanda de Souza, Araújo, Fernando Luiz Vieira de, Reis, Mitermayer Galvão
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 01-01-2023; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Chagas Disease - epidemiology; Cities; Epidemiological surveillance; Humans; Major; Public health; Seroepidemiologic Studies; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Trypanosoma cruzi; Brazil; Epidemiological surveillance; Public health; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0185-2022

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by triatomines. Historical information from the 20th century demonstrates T. cruzi records in the metropolitan region of Salvador (MRS), the third largest urban agglomeration in the Brazilian Northeast and the eighth largest in Brazil, an area with intense migratory activity from CD-endemic regions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate CD indicators (prevalence and mortality) in the MRS.
A mixed ecological and descriptive study was conducted using secondary data. We analyzed data from 2008 to 2015: deaths due to CD, self-reported cases of CD, and blood donors that were non-negative for T. cruzi infection.
São Francisco do Conde was one of the municipalities with the highest mortality rates due to CD. The seroprevalence rates varied by year and municipality; those with the highest values were 2008: Vera Cruz, 2009: Mata de São João, 2010: Dias D'Ávila, 2011 and 2015: São Francisco do Conde, 2012: São Sebastião do Passé, and 2013 and 2014: Pojuca. Spatial correlations between the municipalities were not detected.
We conclude that CD is present in the MRS. The indicators analyzed in the MRS are below-state-level data. Given the importance of indicator analysis for the surveillance and control of CD at the state and national levels, it is important to strengthen the surveillance program at the municipal level, including the regions classified as low risk for T. cruzi vector transmission.