[Heterogeneous distribution of the prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies among blood donors in the State of Puebla, Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence and associated factors, of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi Ab) among blood donors living in rural and suburban areas and risk regions.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2003, in 2489 blood donors of seven regions of Puebla, who were evaluated for mandatory viral and T. cruzi serological tests using validated procedures.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence for T. cruzi Ab was 1.24% (31/2489), similar to hepatitis C (HVC) (1.5%) and higher than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (0.4%) and hepatitis B (HVB) (0.3%). The highest seroprevalences were observed in the regions of Tehuacan-Sierra Negra and Mixteca, up to 2.6%, while in Sierra nororiental and Angelopolis no positive blood donors were identified. A positive association was observed between seropositivity and being older than forty years and being born and raised in Tehuacan-Sierra Negra and Mixteca.


CONCLUSIONS
T. cruzi seroprevalence distribution is heterogeneous, from 0% to 2.6%, with higher seroprevalences in the regions of Tehuacan-Sierra Negra and Mixteca.
Monteón
Victor M
VM
Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Dr. Ignacio Chávez, México, DF, México.
Reyes-López
Pedro A
PA
Sosa-Palacio
Adalid
A
León-Tello
Gloria
G
Martínez-Murguía
Jaime
J
Sosa-Jurado
Francisca
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan