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Trypanosoma cruzi in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy Patients, Houston, Texas, USA

Melissa S Nolan, David Aguilar, Arunima Misra

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |June 21, 2021
    PubMed

    Insights

    Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is often underdiagnosed in Latinx cardiac patients in the US. Early laboratory screening for T. cruzi is recommended to identify and manage this infection in at-risk populations.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Tropical Medicine

    Background:

    • Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant public health concern.
    • Cardiac involvement is a major manifestation of Chagas disease, leading to cardiomyopathy.
    • Latinx populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by Chagas disease.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Latinx patients diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in Houston, Texas.
    • To assess the diagnostic accuracy of available assays for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in this patient cohort.

    Main Methods:

    • A cohort of 97 Latinx patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy was screened for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
    • Diagnostic assays were utilized to detect the presence of the parasite.

    Main Results:

    • A high prevalence of underdiagnosed Trypanosoma cruzi infection was observed among the studied patients.
    • Discrepant results were noted across different clinical diagnostic assays, highlighting potential challenges in diagnosis.

    Conclusions:

    • Latinx individuals with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in the US are at significant risk for undiagnosed Chagas disease.
    • Routine laboratory screening for Trypanosoma cruzi infection is crucial for early detection and management in this population.
    • Improved diagnostic strategies are needed to address the variability in current testing methods.

    Keywords:
    Chagas diseaseHoustonTexasTrypanosoma cruziUSAcardiomyopathyparasitessurveillance

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