Congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in non-endemic areas: evaluation of a screening program in a tertiary care hospital in Barcelona, Spain

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Nov;87(5):832-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0152. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

Abstract

The impact of Chagas disease is no longer restricted to endemic areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate a 2-year period of a vertical transmission screening program of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a tertiary care hospital in Barcelona (Spain). Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (recombinant and crude antigen) were performed in parallel to pregnant women at risk of T. cruzi infection. Discordant results were confirmed by a third diagnostic test. In the case of a positive result, the newborn was tested at birth and after 8 months of life. A total of 1,473 women met the inclusion criteria for the screening program with a resulting seroprevalence for T. cruzi of 3.5% (2.2-5.2% 95% confidence interval [95% CI]). One case of congenital infection was identified. Screening programs for vertically transmitted T. cruzi acute infection are beneficial in non-endemic areas for early detection and treatment of acute infection.

MeSH terms

  • Disease Transmission, Infectious
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Spain
  • Tertiary Care Centers / organization & administration*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / isolation & purification*
  • Trypanosomiasis / congenital*
  • Trypanosomiasis / diagnosis
  • Trypanosomiasis / parasitology
  • Trypanosomiasis / transmission