Chagas - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

Chagas
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SCIENTIFIC WORkING GROUP: OBjECTIvES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
TDR and PAHO convened a Scientific Working Group in Buenos Aires, Argentina in
April 2005. Some 66 experts from 17 countries, and representing many key disciplines,
participated in the discussions. The deliberations constituted the basis for an ongoing
global scientific effort aimed at assessing the state of knowledge and defining the research
priorities needed to improve the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of Chagas
disease. From the deliberations at the meeting and the discussions that ensued, key gaps
were identified and research priorities were highlighted, including the following needs:
• Research to address the real size and distribution of Chagas disease and its burden
(including in North America and Europe).
• Research to achieve sustainability of the domiciliated vector control strategies and to
address the challenges that the peridomiciliated vector poses through:
– new tools and implementation of surveillance;
– entomological information to characterize peridomiciliated vectors;
– new interventions to control peridomiciliated vectors;
– research on the social and economic concomitants;
– health systems research.
• Entomological research to guide implementation of vector control strategies in the
Andean, Central American and Amazonas regions.
• Improved tools for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of infection and disease
including:
– research on pathogenesis ( T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II vs. disease manifestations);
– new diagnostics;
– new drugs;
– New paradigms for chronic disease treatment.
•
Evidence for policy to guide patient treatment strategies.
Reporte del grupo de trabajo científico sobre la enfermedad de Chagas, 2005 • TDR/GTC/06