Key result
Trypanosoma cruzi infection affects ~0.2% of pregnant women in Brazil's Federal District with rare congenital transmission.
Why the study?
In the Federal District of Brazil, the frequency of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in pregnant women and their offspring had not been updated.
Cross-Sectional (n=98,895)
There remains a risk of congenital transmission of Chagas disease in the Federal District of Brazil, highlighting the need for continuous screening of pregnant women.
Low prevalence and transmission rates suggest limited screening priority locally; leaves open need for wider surveillance in endemic regions.
Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and it is mainly acquired through the vector route, however, blood transfusion and congenital transmission are implicated in the spread of the illness worldwide. The congenital route can occur at any stage of pregnancy and its frequency varies. In the Federal District, in Brazil, the frequency of T. cruzi infection in pregnant women and their offspring has not been updated. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in pregnant women and the rate of congenital transmission in the Federal District. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. cruzi from 2014 to 2016 in the population of pregnant women attended by the public health service throughout the Federal District and a descriptive cohort for the evaluation of congenital transmission. During the study, prenatal data of 98,895 women were consulted and pregnant women registered in 2016, presenting with positive T. cruzi serology, were part of the descriptive cohort. The estimated prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the three years was 0.19% and the congenital transmission rate was 1/40 (2.5%). Our results have shown that, although the main routes of transmission of CD have been interrupted, there is still a risk of congenital transmission in the Federal District. This present study highlights the need for the continuous implementation of a screening program for pregnant women and timely treatment of infected newborns and children.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Nobre et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) (n=98,895). Trypanosoma cruzi infection was evaluated on Prevalence of T. cruzi infection and congenital transmission rate. Trypanosoma cruzi infection had an estimated prevalence of 0.19% among pregnant women in the Federal District of Brazil, with a congenital transmission rate of 2.5%.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: