Congenital Chagas disease: time to screen pregnant women?

The congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi has gained epidemiological importance because it is partially responsible for the spread of Chagas disease worldwide. The feasibility of a cure when infected children are treated early makes the detection of congenital infection a valuable goal toward the control of the disease. Here, the authors review and discuss the findings of Bua et al., who quantified the parasitemia of infected women and their newborns by quantitative PCR. The authors demonstrate that the maternal parasite burden is directly related to the risk of neonatal infection. This study points out the importance of a quantitative screen for T. cruzi in pregnant women who live in, or have traveled to, endemic areas for improving the diagnosis of infected newborns and providing prompt treatment.

Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior, Programa Nacional de Pos Doutorado (CAPES/PND Grant)

Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior, Programa Nacional de Pos Doutorado (CAPES/PND Grant) [02883/09-0]

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)