Detection of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi in donors from a blood bank in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.

Background. Surveys carried out in the Mexican state of Morelos indicate the presence of Chagas' disease. The aim of this work was to perform a pilot study to detect the presence of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi in donors from the Blood Bank at the Regional Hospital of Cuernavaca, Morelos. Methods. From March-september 1993, blood samples from 318 donors (284 men and 34 women) were collected. The of age range donors was from 18-45 years. Antibodies against T. cruzi were determined using a commercial ELISA kit. Results. Fifty-four (17 percent) serum samples had antibodies against T. cruzi: 34 out of 284 men, and 20 out of 34 women were positive (11.9 and 58.8 percent, respectively). Of the 128 individuals who donated blood more than once, 9 (7 percent) were positive and had previously donated blood from 1-4 times. Antibodies against Leishmania sp. and T. rangeli were not determined. Conclusions. Based on the results of this study, procedures to detect antibodies against T. cruzi in blood donors and the application of a questionnaire inquiring into risk factors for T. cruzi infection should be implemented(AU)