Doença de Chagas humana: estudo da infecção crônica, morbidade e mortalidade em Virgem da Lapa, MG, Brasil (1976-1996)

A recombinant peptide antigen line immunoassay optimized for the confirmation of Chagas' disease

“…The 1062 sera employed in this retrospective study for test optimization were obtained from patients and healthy residents of four Brazilian regions endemic for Chagas' disease: 261 sera were from the state of Minas Gerais (municipality of Virgem da Lapa), where the cardiac and digestive forms of the disease are frequent; 465 and 253 sera were obtained in the rural areas of Paraíba and Piauí, respectively, where the indeterminate form of the disease is common; and 83 sera were from the Amazon River basin (municipality of Barcellos), where Chagas' disease is emerging. Most of the blood samples originated from patients who have been participating in long‐term follow‐up studies for 2 to 20 years 20–26 . Serologic analysis was performed by several immunologic methods (see below).…”

Evaluation of Three Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Diagnosis of Chagas’ Disease

“…Study population and description of areas in which Chagas' disease is endemic. Sera were obtained from patients and healthy residents from the following areas: the state of Minas Gerais in the south-central region of Brazil (municipality of Virgem da Lapa, n ϭ 261; 12.6% seroprevalence), where the cardiac and digestive forms of the disease are common (4,5); the hinterlands of the northeastern states of Paraíba (n ϭ 466; 9.5% seroprevalence) and Piauí (n ϭ 253; 5.9% seroprevalence), where the indeterminate form of the disease is common (7,16,17); and the Amazon state in the north of Brazil (municipality of Barcellos, n ϭ 85; 13.2% seroprevalence), where Chagas' disease is emergent (15,18,19).…”

Chronic phase of Chagas disease: why should it be treated? A comprehensive review

“…The occurrence rate of this evolution is extremely variable, ranging from 10-60% from one region to another. Acute cases of greater severity resulting from a higher parasitic burden tend to evolve into clinical forms that are also more severe (Castro 1978, Dias 1982, Borges-Pereira 1997. In an observational study that we conducted in Rio de Janeiro over a 30-year period on 510 individuals from several Brazilian states who were serologically positive for Chagas infection (Coura et al 1983), 39% remained in the indeterminate form, 52.1% presented with cardiopathy and 14.3% presented with megaoesophagus and/or megacolon.…”