 |
|
|
|
"Improving
the health status of underserved populations through
sustainable and comprehensive research, service and
educational initiatives related to infectious diseases." |
|
        |
|
TDI RESEARCH FEATURED NEWS
|
|
Another great summer of
research in Ecuador
By: Joshua
O’Donnell and Leonardo Carrizo
This summer, twenty two Ohio University
students and six students from other universities
participated in OU’s Tropical Disease Institute’s
(TDI) education abroad program working with Chagas
disease research and prevention in Ecuador.
Participants worked in collaboration with the
Centro de Investigación en
Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIEI) of Catholic
University of Quito and the Servicio Nacional de
Erradicación de la Malaria (SNEM) of
the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. |
Meet the participants |
|
Chagas disease is prevalent throughout Latin
America, especially in socio-economically
underdeveloped communities. The disease is
transmitted by an insect known in Spanish as a
Chinchorro, and in English as a Kissing-bug. The
disease has no vaccine, cure is only effective soon
after infection and is potentially fatal for those
infected. TDI’s goals in Ecuador are to further
understand the prevalence and pathogenicity of the
protozoa that cause the disease, and to eventually
eradicate the disease in the regions where the
institute works. |
OUCOM Medical student, Leah Beegan, and kids are
all smiles at the clinic |
|
Eric Carlsen, another two time participant in the
program, says that the project was influential in
his decision to pursue the medical field,
particularly in international medicine and treating
infectious disease. Moreover, from the experience he
feels more confident in developing foreign language
skills.
OU students worked in two Ecuadorian provinces, the
mountainous southern province of Loja and the
coastal province of Manabí, and participated in the
project’s two major components, field
work and clinical work. Field work consisted of
working closely with SNEM personnel, visiting
families, searching for Chinchorros in and
around houses, and educating each family about
Chagas disease and how to prevent it. The clinical
work consisted of giving physical examinations and
Chagas disease tests to local children under the age
of fifteen. |
Marcy
Shrader-Lauinger, of Colby University, and Tyler
Verworn, of Concordia College, working in the clinic |
|
Two time participant Stephanie White comments that
working with the Chagas disease research team in Ecuador was
both an invaluable and unforgettable experience, and
that the Ecuadorians were extremely welcoming. She
also says that it is an excellent time to become
involved because the research is growing in
importance.
Plant Biology student, Christine Leistner, calls the
experience of working with TDI and CIEI nothing less
than amazing, commenting that “there are so many
different ecosystems in this country [Ecuador] that
all of the senses are dazzled. Rainforests,
mountains, clouds, ocean and unique trees barely
scratches the surface ...On another level, being
able to assist in the research and the overall
health aid of various communities opens an entirely
new understanding of the world. Participating in
this trip really does make a sustainable impact,
personally and globally”. Biology student Jodi
Mrosko adds that it was great to communicate and
collaborate with the underserved population that the
project was working to improve.
Mario Grijalva, the director of the Tropical Disease
Institute at Ohio University, feels that this
summer’s research was a great success and that the
goals of the project are becoming realities.
Moreover, he and his team are looking forward to
another outstanding season of research in Ecuador
next summer. |
OU
biology student, Jodi Mrosko, working with a
community member |
|
|
