Comparación de la infección por Trypanosoma cruzi en ni os menores de 10 a os de la V Región, Chile. 1982-1995 Comparison of Trypanosoma cruziinfection in less than 10 - year - old children from the V región, Chile. 1982-1995.

Evaluation of desinsectation programs carried out in the two Health Services from the V Region, was undertaken by comparing serologic prevalences of T. cruzi in age groups exposed to the risk of infection in rural areas during the antivectorial campaign activities. (1982 vs 1995). Thus, were studied 2,193 blood samples from children under 10 years of age, proceeding rfrom six chagasic endemic provinces in which antitriatomic domiciliary insecticide sprayings had been performed. Indirect hemagglutination and ELISA tests were carried out to each of the blood samples. A total de 42 (1.9%) children resulted positive. As in five counties no positive case were detected in the last five years it is possible to assume that vector trasmission of T. cruzi should have been interrupted in them. When comparing prevalences existing in 1982 with the present ones, it is possible to observe a 63.5% of reduction of transmission in the V Region, been this reduction higher in the Aconcagua Health Service with 79.6% and lower in the Vi a del Mar - Quillota Health Service with 55.6%. According to these results, comparison of prevalence of T. cruzi infection in children less than 10-year-old in diverse periods, allows evaluate the vectorial control of Triatoma infestans programs