title: Congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in non-endemic areas: evaluation of a screening program in a tertiary care hospital in Barcelona, Spain.
abstract: The impact of Chagas disease is no longer restricted to endemic areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate a 2-year period of a vertical transmission screening program of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a tertiary care hospital in Barcelona (Spain). Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (recombinant and crude antigen) were performed in parallel to pregnant women at risk of T. cruzi infection. Discordant results were confirmed by a third diagnostic test. In the case of a positive result, the newborn was tested at birth and after 8 months of life. A total of 1,473 women met the inclusion criteria for the screening program with a resulting seroprevalence for T. cruzi of 3.5% (2.2-5.2% 95% confidence interval [95% CI]). One case of congenital infection was identified. Screening programs for vertically transmitted T. cruzi acute infection are beneficial in non-endemic areas for early detection and treatment of acute infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. sotero@vhebron.net
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sulleiro
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espiau
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suy
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín-Nalda
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figueras
mesh_terms: D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission