Seroprevalence of Chagas disease infection in the State of Piaui, 2002

To evaluate the epidemiological situation of Chagas disease infection in the State of Piaui, Brazil, and its relationships with age, gender, blood transfusion and spontaneous abortion, a serological survey leas performed. A random sample of 36,399 inhabitants of rural zones was examined between August and December 2002. Chagas disease infection leas defined by the indirect immunofluorescence test, with identification of antitrypanosoma cruzi antibodies in blood samples collected on filter paper. The total seroprevalence was 1.9%, ranging from 0.1 % in children less than five years old to 6.6% in adults over 79 years old. The seroprevalence was significantly higher in women (2.1 %), illiterates (4.1 %), individuals receiving blood (3.3%) and women with a history of spontaneous abortion (5.4%). Comparison with the national serological survey (1975-1980) showed that there had been a significant reduction in the seroprevalence of Chagas disease infection in the State of Piaui (4.0% to 1.9%), which was indicative of the efficacy of the vector control measures implemented between 1975 and 2002.