Epidemiological evaluation of Chagas disease in a rural area of southern Bolivia.

We evaluated the prevalence of Chagas disease using a rapid screening test (Chagas Stat-Pak), confirmed by ELISA, in Caraparí, a village of 9000 inhabitants in southern Bolivian Chaco. The prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi was estimated in a sample of 995 people. The prevalence adjusted on age was 51.2% and was proportionally related to age. We also observed a very significant cline from the south to the north of the locality, where the prevalence ranged from 40 to 80%. In children younger than 11 years, the prevalence was 21.5%, which confirmed the importance of residual vector transmission despite several years of vector control. Among women of procreation age, the prevalence was 63.9%, resulting in a high risk of congenital transmission. The control of the disease requires an increase in vector control and improvement of dwellings before considering children's treatment with trypanocide.