title: Profile of Trypanosoma cruzi reactivity in a population at high risk for endemic pemphigus foliaceus (Fogo selvagem).
abstract: Fogo selvagem (FS) is an autoimmune bullous disease with pathogenic IgG autoantibodies recognizing desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), a desmosomal glycoprotein. In certain settlements of Brazil, a high prevalence of FS (3%) is reported, suggesting environmental factors as triggers of the autoimmune response. Healthy individuals from endemic areas recognize nonpathogenic epitopes of Dsg1, and exposure to hematophagous insects is a risk factor for FS. Fogo selvagem and Chagas disease share some geographic sites, and anti-Dsg1 has been detected in Chagas patients. Indeterminate Chagas disease was identified in a Brazilian Amerindian population of high risk for FS. In counterpart, none of the FS patients living in the same geographic region showed reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi. The profile of anti-Dsg1 antibodies showed positive results in 15 of 40 FS sera and in 33 of 150 sera from healthy individuals from endemic FS sites, and no cross-reactivity between Chagas disease and FS was observed.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. jxsj@yahoo.com
authors: Joaquim X
authors: JX
authors: Sousa
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Diaz
authors: Donald P
authors: DP
authors: Eaton
authors: Günter
authors: G
authors: Hans-Filho
authors: Elder Lanzani de
authors: EL
authors: Freitas
authors: Livia
authors: L
authors: Delgado
authors: Ligia Maria F
authors: LM
authors: Ichimura
authors: Flávia
authors: F
authors: Cristaldi
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Orlandi
authors: Norival
authors: N
authors: Kesper
authors: Eufrosina S
authors: ES
authors: Umezawa
authors: Evandro A
authors: EA
authors: Rivitti
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D001323:Autoantibodies; D051183:Desmoglein 1