The epidemiological significance of Chagas' disease in womem

Abstract

Little is known about the risks associated with Trypanosoma cruzi infection in non-pregnant and pregnant women. From a limited number of studies it appears that in rural areas, parasite rates and rates of serological positivity are similar in both sexes. Abnormal ECG tracings are consistently more frequent in men suggesting that immunity to T. cruzi may be different in females. Complications arising from Chagas' disease in pregnancy are only infrequently reported. Evidence for increased risk of abortion or prematurity is inconclusive except in cases of congenital infection. Most cases of congenital Chagas' disease have been reported from non-endemic areas and there is a suggestion that parasitemic episodes during pregnancy may influence pregnancy outcome. Preliminary evidence indicates that chronic infection can result in in-utero sensitization via passively acquired maternal antibodies. The review concludes that maternal T. cruzi infection carries risks for the child and these warrant systematic research because of their public health significance.

Chagas' disease: study of congenital transmission in cases of acute maternal infection

“…There are few previous reports on acute infection of pregnant woman. In fact, Rassi et al 10 in 1958 in Brazil, reported a case, then reviewed by Brabin 3 . In the present work we studied three acute cases in pregnant women, with high parasitemia and, at least in one of those cases, placental infection and severe histological changes.…”

Apresentação clínica da doença de Chagas crônica em indivíduos idosos

“…No presente estudo, a média de idade entre os não idosos de 39,30 anos encontra-se em acordo com as observações encontradas na literatura 15 . A predominância da doença de Chagas em determinado sexo já tem sido motivo de estudo, mostrando-se controverso, uma vez que alguns têm encontrado predomínio de indivíduos do sexo masculino 5 . Já em outros o risco seria igual para ambos os sexos 6 .…”

Patterns of nucleolar activity during spermatogenesis of two triatomines,Panstrongylus megistusandP. herteri

“…However, other means of disease transmission exist induing congenital infection (BRABIN 1992), blood transfusion and organ transplants (heart, kidneys) (NEVES 1991 Most members of the subfamily Triatominae have 10 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes or multiple sex chromosomes. The modal number of chromosomes in triatomines is 22 (20 + XY) (UESHIMA 1966).…”