Serological screening of Chagas disease in an immigrant population in Asturias, Spain proceeding from Chagas-endemic areas.
Population movements from Chagas disease-endemic areas to non-endemic countries due to immigration make the occurrence of this disease in these latter areas possible. We describe the results of a screening programme conducted in an immigrant population from endemic areas, attending the Tropical Medicine Unit of the Hospital Central de Asturias between June 2006 and June 2008. The ID-Chagas antibody test (particle gel immunoassay (PaGIA); DiaMed-ID) was used as a screening assay. We analysed 64 patients, 9 of whom (14%) tested positive for Chagas disease antibodies, a diagnosis that was confirmed in all cases. Six patients came from Bolivia, 2 from Paraguay and 1 from Brazil. Chagas disease is of increasing importance, even in areas with low migratory flows; hence screening programmes for this population group are especially important.
Rodríguez-Guardado
Azucena
A
Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. azucenarodriguez@telecable.es
Rodríguez
Mercedes
M
Alonso
Paula
P
Seco
Carolina
C
Flores-Chavez
Maria
M
Mejuto
Patricia
P
Cartón
Jose A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013020:South America / Q000208:ethnology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan