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Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among Bolivian immigrants in the city of São Paulo, Brazil
Luna, Expedito JA; Furucho, Celia R; Silva, Rubens A; Wanderley, Dalva M; Carvalho, Noemia B; Satolo, Camila G; Leite, Ruth M; Silveira, Cassio; Silva, Lia MB; Aith, Fernando M; Carneiro Jr, Nivaldo & Shikanai-Yasuda, Maria A
Abstract
With the urbanisation of the population in developing countries and the process of globalisation, Chagas has
become an emerging disease in the urban areas of endemic and non-endemic countries. In 2006, it was estimated
that the prevalence of Chagas disease among the general Bolivian population was 6.8%. The aim of the present study
was to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among Bolivian immigrants living in São Paulo,
Brazil. This study had a sample of 633 volunteers who were randomly selected from the clientele of primary care
units located in the central districts of São Paulo, Brazil. Infection was detected by two different ELISA assays with
epimastigote antigens, followed by an immunoblot with trypomastigote antigens as a confirmatory test. The prevalence
of the infection was 4.4%. Risk factors independently associated with the infection were: a history of rural jobs
in Bolivia, knowledge of the vector involved in transmission, and having relatives with Chagas disease. Brazil has
successfully eliminated household vector transmission of T. cruzi, as well as its transmission by blood transfusion.
The arrival of infected immigrants represents an additional challenge to primary care clinics to manage chronic
Chagas disease, its vertical transmission, and the blood derivatives and organ transplant programs.
Keywords
Trypanosoma cruzi; Chagas disease; seroepidemiologic studies; emigrants and immigrants; Brazil; Bolivia
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