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 indica te the presence of Chagas' disease, The aim of this work was to perfor m a pilot study to detect the presence of antibodies against Trypanoso ma cruzi in donors from the Blood Bank at the Regional Hospital of Cue rnavaca, Morelos. Methods: From March - September 1993, blood samples from 318 donors (284 men and 34 women) were collected, The of age rang e donors was from 18 - 45 years. Antibodies against T. cruzi were dete rmined using a commercial ELISA kit. Results: Fifty-four (17%) serum s amples had antibodies against T. cruzi: 34 out of 284 men, and 20 out of 34 women were positive (11.9 and 58.8%, respectively), Of the 128 i ndividuals who donated blood more than once, 9 (7%) were positive and had previously donated blood from 1 - 4 times. Antibodies against Leis hmania sp. and T. rangeli were not determined. Conclusions: Based on t he results of this study, procedures to detect antibodies against T. c ruzi in blood donors and the application of a questionnaire inquiring into risk factors for T. cruzi infection should be implemented.