PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre Spotlight Series
Reference Number: ARG-14
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Research, Referential Diagnosis, Biological Production & Training in Chagas & Parasitic Diseases
Institution: Instituto Nacional de Parasitología (INP), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS)
Reference Number: ARG-35
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC for Chagas Disease Clinic and Medical Care
Institution: Center for Chagas Disease and Regional Pathology, Ministry of Health of Santiago del Estero
Reference Number: ARG-39*
Official Title: PAHO/WHO CC in Pediatric Chagas Diseases
Institution: Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños R. Gutiérrez
Category 1 (SP 14-19)
Outcome 17 (SP 20-25)
Dr. Roberto Salvatella, Advisor, Chagas Disease Prevention and Control, is the PAHO staff member who acts as the Region’s focal point to coordinate the collaboration between the institution and the Organization.
The main activities of these Centres include: (1) training of health human resources; (2) controlling for quality of serology (blood) diagnostics; and (3) creating publications.
The Centre at the Instituto Nacional de Parasitología (INP), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud provides annual training workshops for doctors, nurses and other health personnel on clinical and medical care for Chagas disease. Workshop participants are selected during annual meetings on Chagas disease from the Region and are selected according to countries’ needs and the current state of Chagas (i.e. endemicity). In addition, the Centre provides laboratory technical support and capacity building related to diagnostic capabilities, including quality control in serology for Central American countries.
The Centre at the Ministry of Health of Santiago del Estero provides technical support for a Chagas sub-regional initiative, human resources training (annual meeting of doctors from Chagas endemic areas) and the development of tools for organizing care at primary level.
The Centre at the Hospital de Niños R. Gutiérrez assists with training health care professionals in pediatric Chagas disease care including during the annual meetings for a sub-regional initiative for Chagas. The Centre’s staff also produces research focused on the etiological treatment of Chagas disease in children.
The Centres have also produced several publications including:
- Chagas cardiomyopathy associated with serological cure after trypanocidal treatment during childhood
- Experimental combination therapy using low doses of benznidazole and allopurinol in mouse models of Trypanosoma cruzi chronic infection
- Some Limitations for Early Diagnosis of Congenital Chagas Infection by PCR.
Webnotes such as these serve to inform on how CCs are contributing to the Organization’s priorities and mandates.
*CC expired.