Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume 285, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 919-923

Chagas disease in Latin American pregnant immigrants: Experience in a non-endemic country (Article)

Ramos J.M.* , Milla A. , Rodríguez J.C. , López-Chejade P. , Flóres M. , Rodríguez J.M. , Gutiérrez F.
  • a Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain
  • b Service of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain
  • c Microbiology Section, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain
  • d Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Parasitology Service, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
  • f Service of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain
  • g Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Spain, Departamento de Medicina Clinica, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain

Abstract

Purpose Chagas disease is a systemic chronic parasitic infection by Trypanosoma cruzi endemic in Latin America. Migration of women of childbearing age from Latin America to developed countries may spread the disease to nonendemic areas through vertical transmission. Methods Prospective study of seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in immigrant Latin American pregnant women during a 5-year period (from 2006 to 2010) in Spain. Results Seven out of 545 participants were seropositive for T. cruzi [prevalence 1.28%, 95% conWdence interval (CI) 0.06-2.56]. Four (57%) were from Bolivia and three (43.%) from Paraguay. The seroprevalence in pregnant women from Bolivia was 10.26% (95% CI 4.06-23.58) and in participants from Paraguay was 6.52% (95% CI 2.24-17.5). No congenital transmission occurred. Conclusions Seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in Latin American pregnant women coming from Bolivia and Paraguay is high. Those women should be screened for T. cruzi to control mother-to-child transmission in non-endemic areas. © Springer-Verlag 2011.

Author Keywords

Maternal-fetal transmission American trypanosomiasis Non-endemic area Chagas disease Trypanosoma cruzi Vertical transmission

Index Keywords

prospective study immigrant South and Central America Latin America mass screening Pregnancy Complications, Infectious pregnancy complication Prospective Studies human epidemiology statistics screening test ethnology benznidazole Humans treatment duration Hispanic Adolescent antibody detection Infant, Newborn Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female enzyme linked immunosorbent assay newborn pregnancy Article disease transmission major clinical study adult Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical migration developed country endemic disease Endemic Diseases pregnant woman vertical transmission Chagas Disease seroprevalence Paraguay Bolivia Seroepidemiologic Studies Trypanosoma cruzi
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84863226528&doi=10.1007%2fs00404-011-2081-9&partnerID=40&md5=591566f80f0bb6255b9ca62a553ce133
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-011-2081-9
ISSN: 09320067
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English