Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in Latin American migrants in transit through the México- USA border
Introduction: In recent years, American trypanosomiasis has become an emergent public health problem in countries receiving migrant populations such as México, USA, Canada or those in Europe. Objective: To analyze the prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in Latin American migrants on thei...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Instituto Nacional de Salud
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Biomédica: revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud |
| Online Access: | https://www.revistabiomedica.org/index.php/biomedica/article/view/3526 |
| Summary: | Introduction: In recent years, American trypanosomiasis has become an emergent public health problem in countries receiving migrant populations such as México, USA, Canada or those in Europe.
Objective: To analyze the prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in Latin American migrants on their way to USA and Canada by means of serological techniques.
Material and methods: ELISA and IHA were performed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies. Also, each participant filled out a socioeconomic questionnaire to determine the associated factors with seropositive cases, which could facilitate the transmission in the migrants’ country of origin.
Results: Total seroprevalence among the studied population was 20% (24/120). The highest prevalence was found in migrants from Guatemala with 37.5% (6/16), followed by Honduras (22.6%; 12/53), El Salvador (16%; 4/25), and México (8.7%, 3/23). From the total 120 surveyed migrants, 105 (87.5%) recognized the vector of Chagas’ disease, and 62 (59%) assured having been bitten by it. Highly significant statistical associations were found between infection and the construction materials for walls and the presence of pets (dogs) inside houses (p≤0.01), as well as with the building materials for backyards, inadequate basic services, and animal breeding inside corrals built around dwellings (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Non-endemic countries receiving migrants from endemic areas should enhance or develop better health policies to prevent transfusion-transmitted Chagas or congenital parasite transmission. |
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| ISSN: | 0120-4157 0120-4157 |