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Prevalence of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection in Blood Donors
Alanna Carla da Costa1, Eduardo Arrais Rocha1, José Damião da Silva Filho1
1Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE - Brasil.
Insights
Chagas disease (CD) remains a concern in Ceará, Brazil. A 2010-2015 study found 0.33% of blood donors ineligible due to CD, highlighting the need for improved screening tests.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Chagas disease (CD) is a significant public health issue in Latin America.
- The northeastern region of Brazil, particularly Ceará, faces ongoing challenges with CD transmission risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among blood donors in Ceará.
- To assess the risk of Chagas disease transmission via blood transfusions in the region.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive study utilizing data from 2010-2015.
- Analysis of serological screening results from the Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of Ceará (HEMOCE).
Main Results:
- Out of 763,731 potential blood donors, 1,982 (0.33%) had positive/inconclusive Chagas disease diagnoses.
- Among 425 individuals retested, 28.2% were confirmed ineligible due to CD.
Conclusions:
- No significant reduction in CD serology was observed between 2010-2015, though rates decreased compared to 1996/1997.
- Accurate serological screening is crucial to reduce blood wastage and healthcare costs, and enhance patient safety.
Background:
Chagas disease (CD) is considered a public health problem in Latin America. The northeastern region, especially the state of Ceará, still represents a major concern in terms of the risk of transmission of CD.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of T. cruzi in blood donors from the state of Ceará.
Methods:
This is a retrospective descriptive study that was performed in the period from 2010 to 2015 from data recorded in the computerized system of the Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of Ceará (HEMOCE in Portuguese).
Results:
Of the 763,731 potential blood donors, 14,159 were serologically ineligible; 1,982 (0.33%) were serologically ineligible due to positive / inconclusive diagnosis for CD. A total of 425 individuals came to the HEMOCE to repeat the test, with 28.2% (120/425) declared ineligible for donations due to CD.
Conclusion:
No significant reduction of positive / inconclusive serology was observed in the period between 2010 and 2015, but a reduction was observed when compared to 1996/1997 in the state. The determination of the prevalence of CD in blood banks may be relevant as an indicator of the risk of CD transmission through blood transfusions in a given region. New serological tests for triage with better accuracy in screening are needed, in an attempt to reduce the unnecessary disposal of blood bags, reduce costs for the Brazilian Unified Health System, and diminish insecurity for the patient and family members. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(6):1082-1091).
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