Congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in Europe (Spain): a case report.
Here we report a documented case of congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi from a Bolivian mother with chronic Chagas disease living in Spain. The serology and blood nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were positive for the mother, and amastigote forms were observed in histopathological study of the placenta and umbilical cord. Direct examination, culture, and nested PCR were positive in the blood of the neonate. At the age of 8 days, the neonate began treatment with 5-7.5 mg/kg/day of benznidazol, which was continued for 60 days. Direct examination, blood culture, and nested PCR were negative to T. cruzi 20 days after the start of treatment and remained negative 4 and 7 months thereafter. Serological tests were negative at 4 months. To detect congenital infection and initiate early treatment of infected newborns, protocols are required to detect Chagas disease in pregnant women who migrate from endemic to non-endemic areas.
Riera
Cristina
C
Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mcriera@ub.edu
Guarro
Anna
A
Kassab
Houssein El
HE
Jorba
José Maria
JM
Castro
Montserrat
M
Angrill
Roser
R
Gállego
Montserrat
M
Fisa
Roser
R
Martin
Carmen
C
Lobato
Alejandro
A
Portús
Montserrat
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000469:parasitology*; D013030:Spain; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001562:Benzimidazoles; C031000:benzimidazole