title: Familial analysis of seropositivity to Trypanosoma cruzi and of clinical forms of Chagas disease.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Agua Comprida, MG, Brazil, a region previously endemic to Chagas disease whose vectorial transmission was interrupted around 20 year ago. A total of 998 individuals were examined for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies. Seropositivity was observed in 255 subjects (25.5%), and 743 subjects were negative. Forty-one families with 5-80 individuals with similar environmental conditions were selected for familial analysis. In 15 families, seropositivity to T. cruzi was observed in > 50% of individuals. The segregation analysis confirmed family aggregation for the seropositivity to the T. cruzi. Heart commitment was the major clinical form observed, and in six families, > 50% of the individuals display cardiopathy that may be attributed to T. cruzi infection. Our results support the hypothesis that there is a family aggregation for the seropositivity but without the effect of one major gene.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Genética, Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. rlope@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Roseane L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Silva-Grecco
authors.forename: Marly A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Balarin
authors.forename: Dalmo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Aluízio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prata
authors.forename: Virmondes
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*