Sexual transmission of American trypanosomiasis in humans: a new potential pandemic route for Chagas parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Trypanosoma cruzi infection endemic in Latin America has now spread to several countries across four continents; this endemic involves triatomine vector-free protists. We hypothesised that the sexual transmission of T. cruzi contributes to the ongoing spread of Chagas disease.

Objectives

A short-term longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate this hypothesis.

Methods

The study population comprised 109 subjects from four families, among whom 21 had been diagnosed with acute Chagas disease by direct parasitological analysis. Blood mononuclear cells and serum samples were obtained from each study subject once per year for three consecutive years. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence serological examinations were used

SUBMITTER: Araujo PF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5446233 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature