Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood banks of seven departments of Bolivia

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi infection was studied in 1,298 sera samples of blood banks from 7 capital departments of Bolivia, using the immunofluorescence test (IFI) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The percentages of positivity in these 7 departments have an average of 28% and are distributed as follows: Sta. Cruz 51%, Tarija 45%, Cochabamba 28%, Sucre 39%, La Paz 4.9%, Oruro 6% and Potosi 24%. The prevalence is related with the altitude levels of the different departments. However in Potosi (3,945 m) we found a 24% of prevalence, probably due to the proximity of endemic valleys to the city. The authors suggest a strict control in blood donors since there exists a great risk of infection.

Current epidemiological trends for Chagas disease in Latin America and future challenges in epidemiology, surveillance and health policy

“…The house infestation rate for the whole country was 41.2% in that year and the infection rate in the vectors was 30%. Infection rates of more than 50% have been reported in blood donors in Santa Cruz (Carrasco 1990).…”

Integrate Study of a Bolivian Population Infected by Trypanosoma cruzi, the Agent of Chagas Disease

“…The vector control program is not yet expanded over all the country and, due to the large chagasic population, congenital transmission and transmission by blood transfusion are very abundant too (Azogue et al 1985, Azogue & Darras 1995. High seroprevalences reported in blood donors indicate the magnitude of the human infection even in the towns outside the endemic regions (Carrasco et al 1990, Landivar et al 1992. The rural population has been considered as the main population at risk of infection, however, it was recently shown that vectorial transmission is occurring in suburbs of the main cities too (Revollo et al 1997, Albarracin-Veizaga et al 1999.…”

Prevention of transfusional Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Latin America

“…In some cases, the risk of transfusion related infection is overestimated considering that recipients might be already infected. This is most significant for T. cruzi infection in Bolivia where the seroprevalence in the general population is sometimes higher than 20% (Zuna et al 1985, Carrasco et al 1990). …”

“…Furthermore, screening in Mexico is not routinely done in all endemic states. In places like Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where the prevalence of T. cruzi antibodies in the population is above 50%, the possibility of acquiring T. cruzi infection through a blood transfusion is obvious (Zuna et al 1985, Carrasco et al 1990). …”