Detectable Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia during pregnancy and delivery as a risk factor for congenital Chagas disease : short report /Brutus, Laurent Castillo, H. Bernal, C. Salas, N. A. /Schneider, Dominique Santalla, J. A. /Chippaux, Jean-Philippe Vector control has led to a drastic decrease in the prevalence of acquired Chagas disease in Latin America thus redirecting attention to congenital Chagas disease We report results of a longitudinal study of 359 pregnant women in Yacuiba in southern Bolivia, of whom 147 (40 9%) were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, to evaluate the relation ship between the patency period of the parasitemia and the risk of congenital infection Maternal infection was assessed by using T cruzi-specific serologic tests and parasitemia in mothers and newborns was diagnosed by using microscopic examination of blood in heparinized microhematocrit tubes Parasitemia was present in 28 6% of the infected women Its prevalence increased during the third trimester then decreased at delivery The likelihood of congenital infection was significantly correlated with the parasite density in the mother s blood The risk of transmission increased during the third trimester of pregnancy and could explain premature births or low weight newborns for infected mothers 2010 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010052914 fdi:010052914 Brutus Laurent, Castillo H., Bernal C., Salas N. A., Schneider Dominique, Santalla J. A., Chippaux Jean-Philippe. Detectable Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia during pregnancy and delivery as a risk factor for congenital Chagas disease : short report. 2010, 83 (5), 1044-1047 EN