Prevalence of Trypanosoma Cruzi antibodies in blood donors from the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, between 2012 and 2014

Authors

  • Svetoslav Nanev Slavov Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Katia Kaori Otaguiri Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Mariana Tomazini Pinto Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Vanderléia Bárbaro Valente Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Eugênia Maria Amorim Ubiali Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Dimas Tadeu Covas Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Simone Kashima Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.8169

Keywords:

Blood donors, Trypanosoma cruzi, seroprevalence, blood transfusion

Abstract

Introduction: American tripanosomiasis (Chagas disease), the second most neglected disease in the world, is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Though natural transmission by insect vectors has been controlled, there is significant risk of T. cruzi transmission by blood transfusion in non-endemic regions, generally due to immigration processes from endemic areas.

Methodology: The objective of this study was to evaluate anti-T. cruzi seroprevalence in blood donors from the western part of São Paulo State, Brazil, by serologic and immunofluorescence confirmation tests for the period between 2012 and 2014. Currently, this region is regarded as a non-endemic area for Chagas disease.

Results: The confirmed overall T. cruzi seroprevalence among blood donors was 0.10%, which can be considered low compared to other Brazilian regions. Nevertheless, the distribution of the anti-T. cruzi antibodies within the examined region was uneven, and some areas of significantly higher prevalence were observed.

Conclusions: We could consider two tendencies in the prevalence of T. cruzi: (i) residual older undiagnosed cases from São Paulo State, and (ii) immigration from endemic Brazilian or South American regions. The discordance obtained for T. cruzi prevalence by serologic and immunofluorescence methods demonstrates that more specific routine diagnosis is needed to diminish the cost of the assays and the loss of blood supply once all seropositive blood bags are immediately discarded.

Author Biographies

Svetoslav Nanev Slavov, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Katia Kaori Otaguiri, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Mariana Tomazini Pinto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Vanderléia Bárbaro Valente, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Eugênia Maria Amorim Ubiali, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Dimas Tadeu Covas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

Simone Kashima, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto

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Published

2017-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Slavov SN, Otaguiri KK, Pinto MT, Valente VB, Ubiali EMA, Covas DT, Kashima S (2017) Prevalence of Trypanosoma Cruzi antibodies in blood donors from the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, between 2012 and 2014. J Infect Dev Ctries 11:277–281. doi: 10.3855/jidc.8169

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Section

Original Articles