Publications by authors named "Maria Delmans Flores-Chavez"

Research has shown that multidimensional approaches to Chagas disease (CD), integrating its biomedical and psycho-socio-cultural components, are successful in enhancing early access to diagnosis, treatment and sustainable follow-up.For the first time, a consulate was selected for a community-based CD detection campaign. Two different strategies were designed, implemented and compared between 2021 and 2022 at the Consulate General of Bolivia and a reference health facility in Barcelona open to all Bolivians in Catalonia.

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Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan , is an important problem of public health even in regions where it is not endemic. Spain ranks second worldwide in terms of imported cases of infection in the chronic phase. The diagnosis in this stage is made via the detection of antibodies against .

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Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal parasite that can cause chronic infection, hyperinfection and/or a dissemination syndrome in humans. The use of techniques targeting ova fails to detect S. stercoralis, as only larvae of the parasite are excreted in faeces.

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Objective: The goal of this systematic scoping review is to collect and summarise scientific evidence regarding the validity of two simultaneous immunochromatographic tests for the conclusive diagnosis of Chagas disease. The research was informed by the following review questions: Will the use of two rapid tests be a valid method for the definitive diagnosis of Chagas disease when compared with conventional serological tests? In what type of population has the operation of two rapid tests been tried for the diagnosis of Chagas disease? What are the biomedical and public health advantages of the diagnostic method resulting from the combination of two rapid tests over the conventional serological method? Will it be a cost-benefit strategy for the diagnosis of Chagas with respect to conventional serological tests?

Design: Systematic scoping review.

Setting: A search of the published and unpublished literature in five databases was carried out, in order to identify, screen and select the studies included in this review.

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Serology is the preferred method to confirm a Chagas disease diagnosis and to screen blood donors. A battery of assays is often required due to the limited accuracy of single assays. The Elecsys Chagas assay is a newly developed, double-antigen sandwich assay for use on the Elecsys and cobas e immunoassay analyzers, intended to identify individuals infected with , for diagnosis and screening.

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An international study was performed by 26 experienced PCR laboratories from 14 countries to assess the performance of duplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) strategies on the basis of TaqMan probes for detection and quantification of parasitic loads in peripheral blood samples from Chagas disease patients. Two methods were studied: Satellite DNA (SatDNA) qPCR and kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA) qPCR. Both methods included an internal amplification control.

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Congenital transmission of Chagas disease now occurs in areas where the disease is non-endemic, and also from one generation to another. According to epidemiological data from Latin America, the prevalence of the disease in pregnant women is 0.7%-54%, and the prevalence of vertical transmission is around 5%-6%.

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