[Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donor candidates].
BACKGROUND
Transmission of American trypanossomiasis by transfusion has been reduced by expansion of control measures of blood quality in Brazil. A research project was, therefore, undertaken to evaluate soropositivity for Trypanosoma cruzi infection on blood donors and to compare this rate with those found in 1958 and 1975 in blood banks.


METHODS
A transversal study was carried out on blood donors in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. ELISA and Immunofluorescence were the serological test techniques used in the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.


CONCLUSIONS
A serumprevalence rate of 1.3% was found with a tendency for positive serum findings for Trypanosoma cruzi infection on blood donors to decrease over Aime (1958, 1975, and 1995).
Bonametti
A M
AM
Centro de Ciências de Saúde da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR, Brasil. bonamet@inbrapenet.com.br
Castelo Filho
A
A
Ramos
L R
LR
Baldy
J L
JL
Matsuo
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan