The objective of this work was to study the prevalence of adults infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi among blood donors of the Hemominas Foundation in Montes Claros, Brazil. A cross-sectional, quantitative epidemiological study was performed of 421 blood donors from September 16 2008 to November 13 2008. The L. l. chagasi indirect immunofluorescence test (RIFI) was utilized. Donors that presented with positive results in RIFI were retested using the fast immunochromatographic test (Trald). The gender, age, place of origin, number of donations, leishmania and chagas disease serum results were studied with statistical correlations being analyzed utilizing the chi-square test (x2), x2 with linear tendency and the Fisher test; a level of significance of 5% (p <0.05) was considered acceptable. The profile of the study sample was similar to the overall donor profile. The participants were mostly donors from urban areas (92.7%), living in Montes Claros (67.9%), men (61.3%) and with ages between 18 and 29 years old. In relation to the serum results, 23 (5.5%) were positive according to the RIFI however none of them were positive by the Trald. On comparing the results of RIFI and the chagas disease serum test (Elisa), two individuals were positive for both tests, thereby giving a statistically significant correlation (p=0.003). However the other 21 were positive only by RIFI and negative for chagas disease. The results show the prevalence of infection by L. l. chagasi in asymptomatic, adult blood donors in the Hemominas Foundation in Montes Claros, and highlight the need for further studies on the possible risk of disease transmission via blood transfusion.
Visceral Leishmaniasis; blood donors; asymptomatic
