Seroprevalence of Chagas Disease among People of Latin American Descent Living in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York

Miguel A. Saldivar Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;

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Yamil E. Michelen Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;

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Lucia Milla Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;

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Andreas P. Kalogeropoulos Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;

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Eric Sin Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;

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Harriet L. Hellman Department of Pediatrics, Hampton Community Health Care, Southampton, New York;

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Robert H. Gilman Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland;

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Luis A. Marcos Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York;
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York

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ABSTRACT.

This cross-sectional study estimated a one-time point seroprevalence rate of Chagas disease among people of Latin American descent in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were screened using the Chagas Detect Plus Rapid Test (InBios, Seattle, WA) with confirmation via Trypanosoma cruzi enzyme immunoassay and T. cruzi immunoblot assay. Administration of a questionnaire regarding demographics and risk factors followed. A seroprevalence rate of 10.74% was found. Identified risk factors included prior residence in a palm leaf house (odds ratio [OR], 10.42; P = 0.003; 95% CI, 2.18–49.76), residence in a house with triatomines (OR, 9.03; P = 0.006; 95% CI, 1.90–42.88), and history of triatomine bite (OR, 9.52; P = 0.009; 95% CI, 1.75–51.77). Our findings emphasize the importance of this frequently underdiagnosed disease and help highlight the importance of early screening among high-risk populations.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Miguel A. Saldivar, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Rd., HSC T16-060, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8153. E-mail: miguel.saldivar@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Financial support: This study was funded, in part, by the Healthy Americas Foundation Lucy Delgado Fund.

Authors’ addresses: Miguel A. Saldivar, Yamil E. Michelen, Lucia Milla, and Eric Sin, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, E-mails: miguel.saldivar@stonybrookmedicine.edu, yamilmichelen@gmail.com, lucia.milla@tuftsmedicine.org, and eric.sin@stonybrookmedicine.edu. Andreas P. Kalogeropoulos, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, E-mail: andreas.kalogeropoulos@stonybrookmedicine.edu. Harriet L. Hellman, Department of Pediatrics, Hampton Community Health Care, Southampton, NY, E-mail: hchc@optonline.net. Robert H. Gilman, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, E-mail: gilmanbob@gmail.com. Luis A. Marcos, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, E-mail: luis.marcosraymundo@stonybrookmedicine.edu.

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