The Oxente Chagas Bahia Project: evaluating the efficacy of a rapid diagnostic test and treatments for Chagas disease

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2024 Oct 28:119:e240140. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760240140. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a life-threatening neglected anthropozoonosis primarily transmitted by triatomine bugs. Affecting an estimated 5.7 million people globally, CD has significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in Latin America. The Oxente Chagas Bahia Project aims to screen approximately 30,000 individuals, validate a rapid diagnostic test in a real-world setting, and provide crucial data on its diagnostic performance and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, a biobank will be established to support further research on disease biomarkers and treatment cure rates. By enhancing access to timely diagnosis and treatment, the project will evaluate a strategy to reduce the CD burden.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Chagas Disease* / diagnosis
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Humans
  • Rapid Diagnostic Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Trypanocidal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Trypanosoma cruzi*

Substances

  • Trypanocidal Agents

Grants and funding

Financial support: INOVA Fiocruz Pesquisa Clínica em Doença de Chagas (VPPCB-001-FIO-22-2-11), FAPESB/SECTI (Universal, proposal NºAPP0007/2023). ICS and FLNS are CNPq research grantees (process numbers 316456/2021-7 and 309263/2020-4, respectively).