Etiological treatment of young women infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, and prevention of congenital transmission

Abstract

The objective was to detect Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 32 children in Salta, Argentina, born to 16 chronically infected young women who were treated with benznidazole. Tests were performed to assess the efficacy of treatment after 14 years. At the end of the follow up, 87.5% of the women were non-reactive to EIA tests, 62.5% to IHA and 43.8% to IFA. 62.5% of the women were non-reactive according to two or three serological tests. No infected children were detected among the newborns of mothers treated before their pregnancy.

2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015

“…However, surveillance for Chagas disease specifically in pregnant women or exposed/infected children has not yet been established in the country. On the other hand, it is recognized that provision nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015 of anti-T. cruzi treatment to non-pregnant infected women of childbearing age may be an effective strategy to reduce vertical transmission in future pregnancies (41) (109) . It should also be noted that vertical transmission may be repeated in every pregnancy (104) .…”

“…Accidental exposure to antiparasitic drug during pregnancy is not a criterion for interrupting the gestation (115) . Studies point to the possible benefit of antiparasitic treatment, with better evolution of Chagas disease (116) (119) (120) (121) (122) and reduction of the risk of vertical transmission in future gestations (109) (116) . High maternal parasitemia is associated with an increased risk of vertical transmission and abortion (103) (115) .…”

Mother-to-Child Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi

“…Sosa-Estani et al [26] observed 16 women treated for Chagas disease during their childhood and found that none of their 32 infants were congenitally infected; however, transmission rates are relatively low [19], and this result would need to be confirmed by large prospective studies.…”

Antiprotozoal compounds: state of the art and new developments

“…Another antimalarial, orally M a n u s c r i p t [67,68] since approximately 40% of all untreated cases are fatal [69].…”