World Conference on
Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

Biography:

Antonio Teixeira study family protocol unraveled the sexual transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi agent of Chagas disease in humans. He observed a broad difference among the total Chagas parent’s progeny with positive nuclear DNA-PCR (nDNA-PCR) in the absence of T. cruzi antibodies. Instill of nDNA-PCR+ semen aliquot into naive mice rendered T. cruzi infections in the parental, and its vertical transfer was documented. The immune tolerance in chickens hatched from T. cruzi-inoculated eggs stemmed from an early embryo infection. Moreover, insertions of T. cruzi kinetoplast minicircle sequences (kDNA) were detected into the genome of T. cruzi-infected aves and mammals. The parasite-free kDNA mutations and autoimmune heart lesions were present in chicken’s refractory to T. cruzi. Those mutations drove Chagas-like heart myocarditis in chickens hatched from T. cruzi-inoculated eggs. He described the origin of the parasite-induced genetically driven pathogenesis in transkingdom model systems and established the autoimmune theory in Chagas disease

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: - The Trypanosoma cruzi agent of Chagas disease produces long lasting asymptomatic infections that may translate into clinically recognized pathology. Spread of American trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease is documented at blood bank and specialized clinical centers by the rising seroprevalence of T. cruzi infections in nonendemic countries. The data indicated health systems surveillance of immigrants, since T. cruzi is transmitted congenitally, through blood transfusion, and organ transplantation. Additionally, the finding of Chagas disease in travelers is documented. Clinic-epidemiologic family studies suggested sexually transmitted T. cruzi infection contributes to a potential ongoing pandemic Chagas disease. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A family based protocol was designed to detect chagasic infections in volunteers under health care at two counties of the Amazonian Pará State, Brazil. Among 109 study subjects in four families there were 21 acute cases with parasitological demonstration. The study population blood and semen samples were obtained for assessments of T. cruzi infections, at three occasions one year apart. Findings: The nuclear DNA PCR (nDNA-PCR) was positive in all acutely infected patients and totals 83 (76%) family members. However, immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were positive in 31 (28.4%) study family individuals. Immune tolerance in chicks hatched from T. cruzi-inoculated eggs explained differences among results of nDNA-PCR in the absence of the specific antibody in a majority of progeny. Instills of nDNA-PCR positive semen aliquots in mice translated into T. cruzi nests in organs of the reproduction. Conclusion & Significance: The nDNA-PCR confirmed by Southern hybridization, cloning and sequence secures the diagnosis of all T. cruzi infections. A robust education, information and communication program shall prevent sexually transmitted T. cruzi infections and Chagas disease, and the control requires international solidarity. The emergence of Chagas disease can no longer be underestimated.