Infecção assintomática por Leishmania em doadores de sangue em Dourados-MS

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis considered a major public health problem in the world. It is transmitted mainly by the bite of the female Lutzomyia longipalpis, infected by the parasite Leishmania infantum in the new world. However, transmission in Leishmania by blood transfusion has been reported in several countries. In Brazil there is still no screening for leishmaniasis in blood banks. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection in blood donors in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. The study was carried out from February to March 2019, the sample consisted of 533 donors, over 18 years of age, of both sexes. The Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) was performed. In this population, 28 asymptomatic cases were identified, with a prevalence of 5.2%. Of these, 57.1% were male, aged between 26 and 33 years, and 82.1% lived in the urban area of the municipality of Dourados. Four of these cases stated that they had a dog with leishmaniasis. The present study confirms the presence of asymptomatic infection and the possible risk of Leishmania transmission in blood donors. In view of the results, it is urgent to adopt control measures and develop specific diagnostic tests for VL in the screening of blood banks.