Analysis of the seroprevalence of and factors associated with Chagas disease in an endemic area in Northeastern Brazil.
Chagas disease (CD) is currently considered a neglected disease; hence, identifying the factors associated with its high prevalence is essential. This study aimed to identify the seroprevalence of and the possible factors associated with CD in inhabitants of the City of Limoeiro do Norte, Northeastern Brazil.
Between April and November 2013, blood collection was conducted and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Blood samples that showed positive or possible serology for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies based on indirect immunofluorescence, hemagglutination indirect, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were analyzed. Associations between CD positivity and the study variables were analyzed using prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
A total of 812 individuals were analyzed, of which T. cruzi seropositivity was determined in 4.2% (34 individuals). Sociodemographic variables showing a significant association with T. cruzi positivity included age >50 years (PR = 27.6; 95% CI = 6.66-114.4), elementary level education (PR = 5.15; 95% CI = 1.83-14.47), and retirement (PR = 7.25; 95% CI = 3.72-14.14). Positivity for T. cruzi was 6.17 times higher in those who had a history of living in rammed earth houses compared with those who did not (95% CI = 2.19-17.37). There was no evidence of vertical transmission in the individuals studied. Among the individuals infected with T. cruzi, the majority reported having a comorbidity (p < 0.01).
This study demonstrated the seroprevalence of CD and identified factors associated with a high prevalence of CD.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
Erlane Chaves
EC
Freitas
Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
Maria de Fátima
MF
Oliveira
Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
Arduina Sofia Ortet de Barros
AS
Vasconcelos
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
José Damião da
JD
Silva
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
Carlos Eduardo Menezes
CE
Viana
Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Bioquímica, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Kátia Cristina Morais Soares
KC
Gomes
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.|Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
Luciano Pamplona de Góes
LP
Cavalcanti
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; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan