PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI IN 3 POPULATIONS IN BELIZE

Cross-sectional studies were conducted to determine the prevalence of antibody to Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease among thre e populations in Belize, Specimens were tested using a second-generati on enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA). Confirmatory testing with three si ngle-antigen EIAs and a radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) were per formed. Five (0.5%) of 962 blood donors at the Belize City Hospital we re reactive including four (6%) of 65 donors from countries known to b e endemic for Chagas' disease and one (0,1%) of 861 from Belize (P < 0 .001). Among 467 healthy members of the Belize Defense Farce, none wer e reactive. The third group included workers and families primarily fr om other Central American countries living on a banana plantation in a rural area of the country. Twenty-seven (6.1%) of 442 sera were react ive. The prevalence was 5.3% of 75 < 15 years of age, 4.2% of 236 15-3 4 years of age, and 9.7% of 124 greater than or equal to 35 years of a ge (P = 0.11, by chi-square for trend). The prevalence was similar in males (6.7% of 280) and females (5.8% of 154). The prevalence of these born in Belize (4 of 56, 7.1%) was similar with that of those born in Fl Salvador (9 of 110, 8.2%), Guatemala (6 of 117, 5.1%), and Hondura s (8 of 129, 6.2%). Of the four persons with reactive sera who were bo rn in Belize, the immigrant mother of one was also reactive, suggestin g possible congenital transmission. Among 31 sera repeatedly reactive by EIA to T. cruzi that were further studied, 22 (71%) were reactive b y at least two of three single-antigen confirmatory EIAs and 29 (94%) by RIPA. Additional studies should focus on the epidemiology of T, cru zi and ways to reduce risk of transfusion-related infections in Belize .