Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chagas disease constitutes an important public health threat in terms of morbidity and mortality in the areas in the United States where immigrant populations from Latin America are conspicuous. We conducted a survey to assess the pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/4/132 |
| _version_ | 1811320629895364608 |
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| author | Lenz Tim E Kim Anne Y Mathews Christine E Arena Roberto Southern Paul M |
| author_facet | Lenz Tim E Kim Anne Y Mathews Christine E Arena Roberto Southern Paul M |
| author_sort | Lenz Tim E |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chagas disease constitutes an important public health threat in terms of morbidity and mortality in the areas in the United States where immigrant populations from Latin America are conspicuous. We conducted a survey to assess the prevalence of anti-<it>T. cruzi </it>antibody in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Five hundred serum specimens from Hispanic-surnamed patients were tested by a preliminary ELISA method. On a subset of 50 sera confirmatory testing was also performed using an alternative ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence, and TESA immunoblot. For 274 of 500 Hispanic-surnamed patients, we were able to ascertain immigration status upon medical chart review. Of the 274 sera analyzed, one sample tested as positive for anti-<it>T. cruzi </it>antibody by the preliminary ELISA, and by the three confirmatory methods.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The goal of this study is to increase the awareness of <it>T. cruzi </it>infection and Chagas disease in areas where the Latin American immigrant communities are growing. Our study highlights the importance of testing for Chagas disease in the populations most at risk, and the need for current data on the actual seroprevalence in areas where such immigrant populations are conspicuous. Larger-scale epidemiologic surveys on Chagas disease in the immigrant communities from Latin America are warranted.</p> |
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| id | doaj.art-6b02a22d58fc45d9922c0d31e9f0676d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T13:02:48Z |
| publishDate | 2011-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6b02a22d58fc45d9922c0d31e9f0676d2022-12-22T02:45:52ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002011-04-014113210.1186/1756-0500-4-132Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, TexasLenz Tim EKim Anne YMathews Christine EArena RobertoSouthern Paul M<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chagas disease constitutes an important public health threat in terms of morbidity and mortality in the areas in the United States where immigrant populations from Latin America are conspicuous. We conducted a survey to assess the prevalence of anti-<it>T. cruzi </it>antibody in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Five hundred serum specimens from Hispanic-surnamed patients were tested by a preliminary ELISA method. On a subset of 50 sera confirmatory testing was also performed using an alternative ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence, and TESA immunoblot. For 274 of 500 Hispanic-surnamed patients, we were able to ascertain immigration status upon medical chart review. Of the 274 sera analyzed, one sample tested as positive for anti-<it>T. cruzi </it>antibody by the preliminary ELISA, and by the three confirmatory methods.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The goal of this study is to increase the awareness of <it>T. cruzi </it>infection and Chagas disease in areas where the Latin American immigrant communities are growing. Our study highlights the importance of testing for Chagas disease in the populations most at risk, and the need for current data on the actual seroprevalence in areas where such immigrant populations are conspicuous. Larger-scale epidemiologic surveys on Chagas disease in the immigrant communities from Latin America are warranted.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/4/132 |
| spellingShingle | Lenz Tim E Kim Anne Y Mathews Christine E Arena Roberto Southern Paul M Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas BMC Research Notes |
| title | Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas |
| title_full | Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas |
| title_short | Prevalence of antibody to <it>Trypanosoma cruzi </it>in Hispanic-surnamed patients seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, Texas |
| title_sort | prevalence of antibody to it trypanosoma cruzi it in hispanic surnamed patients seen at parkland health hospital system dallas texas |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/4/132 |
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