Prevalence of Chagas Disease Among Blood Donor Candidates in Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

Despite public health campaigns and epidemiological surveillance activities, Chagas disease remains a major health problem in Latin America. According to data from the World Health Organization, there are approximately 7-8 million people infected with Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, a large percentage of which in Latin America. This study aims to examine the serological profile of blood donors in blood banks of Hemominas hematology center, in the town of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 53,941 blood donors, which were grouped according to gender and age. Sample collections were performed from January 1991 to December 2011, and 277 donors (0.5%) were considered serologically ineligible due to Chagas disease. Analysis of data showed no significant difference between genders. As for age, the highest proportion of ineligible donors was from 40 to 49 years (30%), and there was a positive correlation between increasing age and the percentage of patients seropositive for Chagas disease. Therefore, adopting strategies that allow the safe identification of donors with positive serology for Chagas disease is essential to reduce or eliminate indeterminate serological results.

Seroprevalence of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the North of Estado de Mexico

“…The differences in the prevalence in the study area compared with other countries such as Brazil, in which there were blood bank reports of only 0.2% should be noted 13 . In a study of women and children attending a primary health care center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, they showed a prevalence of 4.0% 14 ; the previous data therefore suggest the need to modify the status of the State of Mexico as an endemic area for Chagas disease with the implementation of health programs focused on the control of this parasitosis.…”

Chagasic infection among blood donors in Brazil: an integrative review

“…Data on the profile of serological ineligibility by the blood banks of the Fundação Hemominas highlight the particularities of each region thereby contributing to measures for health surveillance and helping the blood donation network in donor selection procedures aimed at improving blood transfusion safety. Prevalence of Chagas disease among blood donor candidates in Triangulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil Lopes et al 1 2015 Journal of São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine Descriptive quantitative study: retrospective. To analyze the serological profile of blood donors in blood banks of Hemominas hematology center, in Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais.…”

“…They are generally men, over 30 years old, with a low level of schooling, low income and coming mainly from rural areas and living in urban centers ( Figure 1 ). 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16

Figure 1 Epidemiological profile of Chagas disease in blood donors in Brazil.

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“… 14 Similar results were found in studies conducted in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná and Pernambuco. 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , 13 However, according to the National Health Foundation, there is no positive correlation between donor gender and reactive serology for the disease because it affects both men and women alike. 3 , 15 …”

“…Trypanosoma cruzi is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. 1 …”