Prevalence of Chagas disease in the Latin American immigrant population in a primary health centre in Barcelona (Spain)

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to detect the seroprevalence of chagasic infection in children and women of child-bearing age in a primary care health centre in Barcelona (Spain). Serological screening was performed with an immunochromatography (IC) test (Stat Pak Chagas de Chembio (R)) and all positive and doubtful results were confirmed by two ELISA tests using recombinant and whole Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Prevalence of 4.3% was detected in the child-bearing age group women. General practitioners and paediatricians are concerned by Chagas disease, now an emergent health disease in non-endemic countries. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.