Prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in women of childbearing age in Socotá, Boyacá, 2014.
BACKGROUND
Chagas' disease is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This condition presents epidemiological risk factors associated with socioeconomic conditions and is currently considered an important public health problem. Its presence has been reported in endemic regions at elevations of up to 2,000 meters above sea level.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies and the possible risk factors associated with this condition in women of childbearing age from the town of Socotá, Boyacá.


METHODS
An observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of women of childbearing age from Socotá, Boyacá. The samples were analyzed by Chagas ELISA IgG and IgM test and indirect hemagglutination test. A univariate analysis and statistical association of variables were performed.


RESULTS
A confirmed prevalence of 2/138 (1.4%) was found in this town. Having pets or a history of contact with vectors were possible associated risk factors although without statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
From the results obtained in the present study, it is suggested that more active research be carried out for cases of Chagas' disease in non-endemic areas in Colombia that present risk factors for acquiring the disease, even when the environmental conditions and elevation differ from those described in the literature.
Grupo de Investigación del Programa de Bacteriología y Laboratorio Clínico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Boyacá, Tunja, Colombia. almonroy@uniboyaca.edu.co.
Ángela Liliana
ÁL
Monroy
Adriana María
AM
Pedraza
Carlos Fernando
CF
Prada
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
Chagas disease/diagnosis; Trypanosoma cruzi; disease vectors; public health; risk factors