Chagas disease (Cd) is the third most common parasitic disease that causes damage to human health. Even a century after its description by Carlos Chagas and advances in its control, it remains a neglected disease. To eradicate the parasite or reduce the parasitic load, specific treatment for Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is advisable; benznidazole (BNZ) is the drug that is currently prescribed. The purpose of this study is to report the adverse events (AE) due to the use of BNZ as a specific treatment for Cd, with a particular focus on hepatic changes. This was an observational, cross-sectional cohort study that included patients who were treated with BNZ. The medical records of patients who joined the Grupo de Estudo em doença de Chagas [Chagas Disease Study Group]/UNICAMP/Brazil and were treated with BNZ were reviewed for epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and AE parameters for the drug. The 204 patients who were assessed had an average age of 40.6 years ± 13.5 years, and 104 of them were women (50.98%). Fourteen (6.86%) individuals were in the acute phase of Cd, and 190 (93.13%) were in its chronic phase. AEs occurred in 85 patients (41.66%), 35 (41.17%) of whom had AEs related to the liver, characterized by an elevation of AST liver enzymes, ALT, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase (γGT). Other AEs that were observed included the following: 48 cases of cutaneous changes (56.47%), 8 cases of epigastric pain (9.41%), 7 cases of blood alteration (8.23%), and 3 cases of peripheral neuropathy (3.52%). Treatment was interrupted in 32 patients (37.64%) due to AD. Adverse events related to the liver secondary to the use of BNZ for Cd-specific treatment were frequent in this study and were characterized by an elevation of liver enzymes. Therefore, it is suggested that these enzymes be monitored during treatment with benznidazole.

Since the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s 1992 revision to the case definition of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), there has been scientific evidence showing that certain endemic infectious and parasitic processes, such as Chagas disease, visceral leishmaniasis, and paracoccidioidomycosis, can induce opportunistic behaviour in individuals with advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This situation requires distinct clinical protocols within the healthcare network and epidemiological surveillance measures. These actions aim to incorporate clinical events as indications of AIDS.

This study focuses on developing accurate immunoassays for diagnosing Chagas disease (CD), a challenging task due to antigenic similarities between Trypanosoma cruzi and other parasites, leading to cross-reactivity. To address this challenge, chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4) were synthesized to enhance specificity and reduce cross-reactivity in tests. While these antigens showed minimal cross-reactivity with leishmaniasis, their performance with other trypanosomatid infections was unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of these IBMP antigens for detecting CD in patients with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, a parasite linked to visceral leishmaniasis-like symptoms in Brazil. This study involved seven Crithidia sp. LVH-60A patients and three Leishmania infantum patients. The results indicated that these IBMP antigens displayed 100% sensitivity, with specificity ranging from 87.5% to 100%, and accuracy values between 90% and 100%. No cross-reactivity was observed with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, and only one L. infantum-positive sample showed limited cross-reactivity with IBMP-8.1. This study suggests that IBMP antigens offer promising diagnostic performance, with minimal cross-reactivity in regions where T. cruzi and other trypanosomatids are prevalent. However, further research with a larger number of Crithidia sp. LVH-60A-positive samples is needed to comprehensively evaluate antigen cross-reactivity.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease with life-threatening implications. In this study, we conducted a seroepidemiological survey to determine the prevalence and clinical profiles of CD in 217 individuals from an impoverished rural community in Southern Bahia, Brazil. The overall prevalence of CD in the studied community was 0.92%, detected through latent class analysis (LCA). Two individuals tested positive for anti-T. cruzi IgG, both being male farmers. One case was a 22-year-old man born in Camamu, with no evidence of congenital transmission, suggesting other routes of transmission such as vector-borne transmission due to migratory activities. The other case was a 69-year-old man born in São Felipe, who had lived in an adobe/brick house and had a pacemaker due to cardiac involvement caused by CD. The prevalence in this community was lower than expected, given the socioeconomic conditions and environmental factors that contribute to T. cruzi transmission. This could be attributed to the implementation of preventive measures and vector control programs by the Brazilian Government. However, continuous monitoring and surveillance are essential to sustain control efforts and detect any potential re-emergence of the disease. While the overall prevalence was low, the detection of positive cases underscores the need for continued surveillance and control measures in vulnerable populations, such as rural communities. Active surveillance, early diagnosis, and timely treatment are crucial in preventing disease progression and complications, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of screening and treatment programs.

COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis primarily relies on molecular tests, highly sensitive during early infection stages with high viral loads. As the disease progresses, sensitivity decreases, requiring antibody detection. Since the beginning of the pandemic, serological tests have been developed and made available in Brazil, but their diagnostic performance varies. This study evaluated the IBMP ELISA IgA/IgM/IgG COVID-19 kit performance in detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A total of 90 samples, including 64 from COVID-19 patients and 26 pre-pandemic donors, were assessed based on time post symptom onset (0–7, 8–14, and 15–21 days). The kit showed 61% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 72% accuracy overall. Sensitivity varied with time, being 25%, 57%, and 96% for 0–7, 8–14, and 15–21 days, respectively. Similar variations were noted in other commercial tests. The Gold ELISA COVID-19 (IgG/IgM) had sensitivities of 31%, 71%, and 100%, while the Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NCP ELISA (IgG) and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NCP ELISA (IgM) showed varying sensitivities. The IBMP ELISA kit displayed high diagnostic capability, especially as the disease progressed, complementing COVID-19 diagnosis. Reproducibility assessment revealed minimal systematic and analytical errors. In conclusion, the IBMP ELISA IgA/IgM/IgG COVID-19 kit is a robust tool for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, increasing in efficacy over the disease course, and minimizing false negatives in RT-PCR COVID-19 diagnosis.

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909. Causative treatment can be achieved with two drugs: benznidazole or Nifurtimox. There are some gaps that hinder progress in eradicating the disease. There is no test that can efficiently assess cure control after treatment. Currently, the decline in anti-T. cruzi antibody titres is assessed with conventional serological tests, which can take years. However, the search for new markers of cure must continue to fill this gap. The present study aimed to evaluate the decline in serological titres using chimeric proteins after treatment with benznidazole in chronic patients diagnosed with CD. It was a prospective cross-sectional cohort study between 2000 and 2004 of T. cruzi-positive participants from the Añatuya region (Argentina) treated with benznidazole. Serum samples from ten patients were collected before treatment (day zero) and after the end of treatment (2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months). For the detection of anti-T. cruzi antibodies, an indirect ELISA was performed using two chimeric recombinant proteins (IBMP-8.1 and IBMP-8.4) as antigens. The changes in reactivity index within the groups before and after treatment were evaluated using the Friedman test. All participants experienced a decrease in serological titres after treatment with benznidazole, especially IBMP-8.1. However, due to the small number of samples and the short follow-up period, it is premature to conclude that this molecule serves as a criterion for sustained cure. Further studies are needed to validate tests based on these or other biomarkers to demonstrate parasitological cure.