[Prenatal screening for Trypanosoma cruzi and human T lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 in pregnant Latin American women]

Abstract

Introduction: To estimate the seroprevalence of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in pregnant Latin American women.

Methods: Serological survey carried out in pregnant Latin American women attending the antenatal care clinic of a Spanish hospital from January 2006 to June 2007.

Results: Of the 229 women enrolled, 4 had antibodies against T. cruzi (1.75%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.68-4.4); 2 of these women came from Bolivia (13.33%; 95% CI, 3.73-37.88) and the other 2 from Paraguay (11.76%; 95% CI, 3.29-34.33). None of the women had anti-HTLV-1 antibodies (95% CI, 0-1.6), and 2 had HTLV-2 antibodies (0.87; 95% CI, 0.24-3.12).

Conclusions: A notable percentage of pregnant immigrant women from Latin American had T. cruzi infection. The seroprevalence of HTLV infection is low.