Santo Inácio revisited: protozoan diseases in an isolated village in northeastern Brazil after twenty years.

Abstract

Abstract. The northeastern highlands of Brazil are endemic for several tropical diseases, especially American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) and schistosomiasis. Twenty years ago, we measured the seroprevalence of protozoan diseases in Santo Inácio, a village of approximately 1,000 inhabitants located 1,000 m above sea level. We detected small numbers of sera with antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, and the area had a low prevalence both of American trypanosomiasis (3.54%) and toxoplasmosis (27.43%) compared with nearby Brazilian areas. This was attributed to a specific triatomine vector and local housing conditions. Twenty years later, we again determined the prevalences of both diseases and compared these results with those from Iraquara, a larger town with the same ethnic and social background but with a higher prevalence of rural activities. The incidence of Chagas' disease in San Inácio showed the same low level, i.e., 3.78% (5 of 132) with only adult males affected in contrast with Iraquara, which had an incidence of 34.5%, but a low prevalence of only one of 22 among children up to 14 years of age. Santo Inácio maintained a low (25.8%) seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis. Housewives presented a higher incidence of toxoplasmosis during both periods, probably due to related risk factors. Cats were found less frequently in Santo Inácio than in Iraquara, which showed an incidence of 65.5% seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii. These results suggest that the environmental conditions of Santo Inácio were preserved after 20 years, with a low incidence of these selected protozoan diseases.The northeastern highlands of Brazil are endemic for several tropical diseases, especially American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' diseases) and schistosomiasis.

Non-association between anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and ABO blood group system

“…These observations agree with previous studies that indicate a percentage of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in the Brazilian population (20,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30).…”

Seropositivity rates for toxoplasmosis, rubella, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis and HIV among pregnant women receiving care at a public health service, São Paulo state, Brazil

“…6 In the present study more than 60% of the pregnant women tested positive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies, which is in agreement with other studies carried out in Brazil reporting seropositivity rates ranging from 22.8% to 71.5%. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Two recent studies performed in the northwest region of São Paulo State found rates similar to those reported in the current study. 5,13 Pregnant women at risk of congenital transmission of toxoplasmosis were younger than those without risk.…”

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women and their newborn infants in the region of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

“…These data suggest that the rate of positive findings of T. gondii infection was high in this group and thus corroborate other studies from the same region of the state of São Paulo 20,23 and from other Brazilian states. [15][16][17][24][25][26][27][28] The similarities between this and other studies carried out in some Brazilian states [15][16][17]28 may reflect homogeneity regarding the laboratory diagnostic strategies used.…”