[Maternal-fetal transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, a health problem slightly studied in Mexico: case Chiapas].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Trypanosoma cruzi infection prevalence in 1125 pregnant women and the transmission frequency to their children from Tapachula and Palenque, Chiapas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined the prevalence by serology tests and the transmission frequency by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and T. cruzi reactivity capacity after 12 months.

RESULTS: Total maternal infection prevalence were 23/1 125 (2.04%), 9/600 (1.5%) were from Tapachula and 14/525 (2.6%) from Palenque. The seropositive women were between 20 and 35 years old, 31.8% have Premature Rapture of Membrane and 9.1% have history of perinatal death. The total percentage of positive newborns by PCR was 9/23 (39.13%), out of those 2/9 (22.2%) are from Tapachula and 7/14 (50%) from Palenque. The Maternal Fetal transmission frequency was. 2/9 (22.2%) in Tapachula and 1/14 (7.14%) in Palenque, all positive infants were asynthomatic.

CONCLUSION: The maternal-fetal transmission rate in Chiapas State is variable; the reason could be the maternal immunological status and T. cruzi strain.