title: Seroepidemiology of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the semiarid rural zone of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A seroepidemiological survey was carried out to evaluate Trypanosoma cruzi infection in an endemic area of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, involving rural residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen municipalities were randomly selected, 15 from the west mesoregion and one from the central, with an estimated population of 83,852 individuals. A total of 1,950 blood samples were collected in the west mesoregion and 390 in Caicó. Anti-T. cruzi antibodies were detected using the Chagatest® ELISA HAI-hemagglutination kits and indirect immunofluorescence. As sera presented indeterminate results, TESAcruzi® western blot was performed to confirm reactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated seroprevalence of 6.5% was determined for the west mesoregion and 3.3% for Caicó. Seropositivity rises progressively with the age of individuals, up to 40 years in Caicó and up to 50 years in the west mesoregion. Only educational level and knowledge regarding the triatomine were associated with seropositivity. No seroreactive individuals under 18 years of age were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection by T. cruzi remains high and is concentrated in municipalities in the central western area of the west mesoregion; however, evidence suggests a decline in vector transmission in this mesoregion and in Caicó. Epidemiological variables appear not to influence seropositivity, with the exception of education and knowledge concerning the triatomine, among seroreactive individuals from the west mesoregion.
authors: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
authors: Carlos Ramon do Nascimento
authors: CR
authors: Brito
authors: George Harisson Felinto
authors: GH
authors: Sampaio
authors: Antonia Cláudia Jácome da
authors: AC
authors: Câmara
authors: Daniela Ferreira
authors: DF
authors: Nunes
authors: Paulo Roberto Medeiros de
authors: PR
authors: Azevedo
authors: Egler
authors: E
authors: Chiari
authors: Lúcia Maria da Cunha
authors: LM
authors: Galvão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014225:Triatominae; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan