TY - JOUR KW - Infectious Diseases KW - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health KW - General Immunology and Microbiology AU - Gabrielli S AU - Macchioni F AU - Spinicci M AU - Strohmeyer M AU - Roselli M AU - Nicoletti A AU - Cicero CE AU - Poma V AU - Rojo D AU - Lara Y AU - Gómez EBC AU - Rojas P AU - Gamboa H AU - Villagran AL AU - Cosmi F AU - Monasterio J AU - Cancrini G AU - Bartoloni A AB -

The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation. This epidemiological scenario favors the spread of transmissible diseases, including several parasitic infections belonging to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) group. In this area, a long-standing research activity, built upon the synergism between local and foreign institutions, has been established since the late 1980s and helps to fill in the knowledge gap about the epidemiology dynamics of soil-transmitted helminths, vector-borne parasites, and other parasitic diseases. A 35-year history of cooperation programs in parasitology research has contributed to informing local health authorities of the NTD burden in the Bolivian Chaco and, ultimately, supports local healthcare providers in the management of parasitic diseases.

BT - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed7100275 IS - 10 LA - Eng N2 -

The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation. This epidemiological scenario favors the spread of transmissible diseases, including several parasitic infections belonging to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) group. In this area, a long-standing research activity, built upon the synergism between local and foreign institutions, has been established since the late 1980s and helps to fill in the knowledge gap about the epidemiology dynamics of soil-transmitted helminths, vector-borne parasites, and other parasitic diseases. A 35-year history of cooperation programs in parasitology research has contributed to informing local health authorities of the NTD burden in the Bolivian Chaco and, ultimately, supports local healthcare providers in the management of parasitic diseases.

PB - MDPI AG PY - 2022 EP - 275 T2 - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease TI - Long-Standing International Cooperation in Parasitology Research: A Summary of 35 Years of Activities in the Bolivian Chaco UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/10/275/pdf?version=1664444735 VL - 7 SN - 2414-6366 ER -