Chagas disease: a report of 17 suspected cases in Japan, 2012–2017

Abstract

Background There are no reports on the prevalence of Chagas disease in Japan. Furthermore, screening programs and access to diagnosis and treatment have not been established. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of Chagas disease among suspected cases in Japan and provide the reference data required for disease control. Methods Seventeen patients with suspected Chagas disease in Japan between 2012 and 2017 were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed with Chagas disease based on the two different serological tests for antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi . Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and blood culture techniques were performed to confirm T. cruzi parasitemia. Results Of the 17 patients, 11 (64.7%) were immigrants from Latin America. Ultimately, 6 patients (35.3%) were diagnosed with Chagas disease. Of these 6 patients, median age was 53.5 years, 5 patients were immigrants from Latin American, and 1 was Japanese who had a congenital infection. T. cruzi parasitemia was confirmed in 4 patients (66.7%), and 5 (83.3%) were in the chronic phase (Chagas cardiomyopathy, 4; megacolon, 1). Two patients (33.3%) commenced benznidazole treatment. Conclusion Our study showed that some patients of Chagas disease living in Japan are already in the chronic phase at diagnosis because of substantial diagnostic delays. Further epidemiological studies on the prevalence of Chagas disease and systematic screening programs for the Latin American population are needed.

Association Between Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Peripheral Blood and Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review

“…Finally, we included 12 studies comprising 1,686 patients (12,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45), which are described in Table 1. Eight studies were cross-sectional studies, 3 were designed as prospective cohorts, and 1 was a case-control study.…”

“…All studies used a single venous blood sample for PCR determination. Six studies (50%) used a conventional PCR method (35)(36)(37)(38)(39)41) while the other half used real-time PCR method (12,40,(42)(43)(44)(45). Only four studies used a quantitative method to report PCR results (12,(40)(41)(42) while the rest of the studies used a qualitative method.…”

“…Most studies (8/12; 66.3% used a real time PCR method based on the amplification of a genomic DNA sequence of the Kinetoplast. In the other 4 studies, satellite DNA amplification was used (42)(43)(44)(45). Parasite detection in patients with ICD ranged from 7.4 (35) to 100% (43).…”

“…In the other 4 studies, satellite DNA amplification was used (42)(43)(44)(45). Parasite detection in patients with ICD ranged from 7.4 (35) to 100% (43). When considering patients with CCC, parasite detection varied from 27.4 (45) to 78.1% (12).…”

Analysis of ovarian transcriptomes reveals thousands of novel genes in the insect vector Rhodnius prolixus

“…Between 6 and 7 million people are affected by Chagas disease in Latin American countries 1 . However, several studies also reported the spread of Chagas disease in the United States of America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan 2 – 5 . The sequencing and partial assembly of the R. prolixus genome were recently achieved and the latest RproC3 version is available in VectorBase 6 , 7 .…”