Profile of Trypanosoma cruzi reactivity in a population at high risk for endemic pemphigus foliaceus (Fogo selvagem)

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Oct;87(4):675-80. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0206. Epub 2012 Jul 23.

Abstract

Fogo selvagem (FS) is an autoimmune bullous disease with pathogenic IgG autoantibodies recognizing desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), a desmosomal glycoprotein. In certain settlements of Brazil, a high prevalence of FS (3%) is reported, suggesting environmental factors as triggers of the autoimmune response. Healthy individuals from endemic areas recognize nonpathogenic epitopes of Dsg1, and exposure to hematophagous insects is a risk factor for FS. Fogo selvagem and Chagas disease share some geographic sites, and anti-Dsg1 has been detected in Chagas patients. Indeterminate Chagas disease was identified in a Brazilian Amerindian population of high risk for FS. In counterpart, none of the FS patients living in the same geographic region showed reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi. The profile of anti-Dsg1 antibodies showed positive results in 15 of 40 FS sera and in 33 of 150 sera from healthy individuals from endemic FS sites, and no cross-reactivity between Chagas disease and FS was observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Chagas Disease / diagnosis
  • Chagas Disease / epidemiology*
  • Chagas Disease / ethnology
  • Chagas Disease / immunology
  • Child
  • Desmoglein 1 / immunology*
  • Endemic Diseases*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, South American
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pemphigus / epidemiology*
  • Pemphigus / ethnology
  • Pemphigus / immunology
  • Risk Factors
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Autoantibodies
  • Desmoglein 1

Supplementary concepts

  • Pemphigus and fogo selvagem