Evaluation of Chagas' disease transmission through breast-feeding

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1988, Vol.83 (1), p.37-39
• Main Authors: BITTENCOURT, A. L, SADIGURSKY, M, DA SILVA, A. A, MENEZES, C. A. S, MARIANETTI, M. M. M, GUERRA, S. C, SHERLOCK, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Feeding; Chagas Disease - diagnosis; Chagas Disease - transmission; Colostrum - analysis; Colostrum - parasitology; Female; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Infant; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mice; Milk, Human - analysis; Milk, Human - parasitology; Parasitic diseases; PARASITOLOGY; Protozoal diseases; Serologic Tests; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Trypanosoma cruzi - immunology; Trypanosomiasis
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761988000100005

One hundred milk or colostrum samples from 78 mothers with chronic Chagas' disease were parasitologically studied for Trypanosoma cruzi infection by means of direct examination and inoculation of mice. The mice were submitted to direct blood examination three times a week. At the end of 45 days, xenodiagnosis and indirect immunofluorescent test (IFAT) for T. cruzi antibodies were carried out in the animals. No parasitized sample was observed even though five mothers had parasitemia at milk collection. In addition, 97 breast-fed children of chronic chagasic mothers, born free of infection, were tested for IgG antibodies to T. cruzi using IFAT. No case of T. cruzi infection was detected. The authors conclude that breast-feeding should not be avoided for children of chronic chagasic women. However, as these mothers had intermittent parasitemia, they should avoid nursing when there is nipple bleeding.