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Ready-To-Use qPCR for Detection of DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi or Other Pathogenic Organisms
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Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence among solid organ donors in Ceará State, Brazil
Alanna Carla da Costa1,2, José Damião da Silva Filho2, Eduardo Arrais Rocha3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
Insights
Chagas disease (CD) affects 1.3% of organ donors in Ceará, Brazil, with infected individuals showing a higher risk of stroke. Screening potential donors for Trypanosoma cruzi is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Transplantation Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Chagas disease (CD) transmission via blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and orally is increasingly recognized.
- Brazil's Ceará state is a major center for organ transplants, necessitating understanding of donor health.
- Intensified control measures have shifted focus to non-endemic transmission routes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in organ donor candidates in Ceará, Brazil.
- To identify risk factors and characteristics of infected organ donors.
- To assess the association between Chagas disease and other coinfections or health outcomes in donors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from potential organ donors.
- Study period: 2010-2015.
- Data collected from the Center of Transplantation of the State of Ceará.
Main Results:
- A total of 2,822 potential donors were analyzed; 1.3% (29) were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.
- Infected donors were predominantly males aged 41-60, residing in rural areas.
- 72.4% of infected donors had coinfections (CMV, Hepatitis B/C, toxoplasmosis); stroke was the most common cause of death.
Conclusions:
- A significant prevalence of Chagas disease and coinfections exists among organ donors in Ceará.
- Trypanosoma cruzi-infected donors face an elevated risk of stroke compared to non-infected donors.
- Routine screening for Chagas disease in organ donor candidates is essential for patient safety.
Introduction:
The transmission of Chagas disease (CD) through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and oral transmission has gained greater visibility as a result of intensified vector control activities in endemic regions and to control CD in non-endemic regions. In Brazil, Ceará is one of the states that perform the most organ transplants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in organ donor candidates.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed on data from potential organ donors at the Center of Transplantation of the State of Ceará from 2010 - 2015.
Results:
Data from a total of 2,822 potential donors were obtained, of which 1,038 were effective donors and 1,784 were excluded, likely due to lack of family authorization or medical contraindication. The prevalence of T. cruzi infection among these potential donors was 1.3% (n = 29). The majority of infected donors were males aged 41 - 60 years, residing in the interior of the state. Interestingly, 72.4% (n = 21) had positive or inconclusive serology for additional infections, such as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, and toxoplasmosis. Probability analysis revealed that stroke was the most common cause of death among potential donors with CD.
Conclusions:
There was a high prevalence of CD and other coinfections among potential solid organ donors in Ceará, and statistical tests have shown that these individuals are at increased risk of stroke when compared to potential non-reactive donors. This work highlights the importance of screening DC infection in potential donors.
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