ABSTRACT Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and it is mainly acquired through the vector route, however, blood transfusion and congenital transmission are implicated in the spread of the illness worldwide. The congenital route can occur at any stage of pregnancy and its frequency varies. In the Federal District, in Brazil, the frequency of T. cruzi infection in pregnant women and their offspring has not been updated. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in pregnant women and the rate of congenital transmission in the Federal District. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. cruzi from 2014 to 2016 in the population of pregnant women attended by the public health service throughout the Federal District and a descriptive cohort for the evaluation of congenital transmission. During the study, prenatal data of 98,895 women were consulted and pregnant women registered in 2016, presenting with positive T. cruzi serology, were part of the descriptive cohort. The estimated prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the three years was 0.19% and the congenital transmission rate was 1/40 (2.5%). Our results have shown that, although the main routes of transmission of CD have been interrupted, there is still a risk of congenital transmission in the Federal District. This present study highlights the need for the continuous implementation of a screening program for pregnant women and timely treatment of infected newborns and children.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi apresentar e analisar o perfil educacional e esportivo dos atletas de saltos ornamentais que participaram do Troféu Brasil de 2018, mediante utilizaão de um questionário estruturado com base na perspectiva de formação holística para a dupla carreira. Com amostra definida em 15 participantes, a análise exploratória foi conduzida por meio de estatística descritiva no SPSS mediante frequência geral e específica. Os resultados sugerem a compatibilidade entre as formações esportiva e educacional em uma perspectiva denominada trajetórias de transição fluidas, observando-se casos de descontinuação na formação superior. Ressalta-se a carência de uma legislação nacional sobre dupla carreira e de políticas institucionais que promovam o acesso, a permanência e a finalização da formação acadêmica dos atletas de alto rendimento, bem como aponta-se a necessidade de novos estudos com diferentes modalidades a fim de que se aprofunde o debate sobre a dupla carreira esportiva.

Abstract This study aims to present and analyze the sporting and educational profile of fancy diving athletes who participated in the 2018 Brazil Tournament (Troféu Brasil). It uses a questionnaire based on the holistic training model for a dual career. Exploratory analysis was conducted with a sample of 15 individuals, using descriptive statistics on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software according to general and specific frequency. The results suggest that sporting and educational training are compatible under a perspective called fluid transition pathways, with cases of higher education discontinuation. The study underscores the lack of legislation on dual careers in Brazil as well as institutional policies that promote access, continuation and completion of academic education for high-performance athletes. Moreover, it points out the need for new studies to expand the debate on dual careers in sports.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue presentar y analizar el perfil, educacional y deportivo, de los atletas de saltos ornamentales que participaron en el Trofeo Brasil de 2018, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado basado en la perspectiva de la formación holística para el doble grado universitario. Con una muestra definida en 15 participantes, el análisis exploratorio fue conducido a través de estadística descriptiva en el software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) mediante frecuencia general y específica. Los resultados sugieren la compatibilidad entre las formaciones deportiva y educativa en una perspectiva denominada trayectorias de transición fluidas y se observaron casos de discontinuidad en la educación superior. Se destaca la falta de una legislación nacional sobre el doble grado y de políticas institucionales que promuevan el acceso, permanencia y finalización de la formación académica de los atletas de alto rendimiento, así como la necesidad de que se realicen nuevos estudios con diferentes modalidades para que se profundice el debate sobre el doble grado deportivo.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease (CD), a neglected endemic disease in Latin America, has acquired new epidemiological characteristics with an increase in the importance of alternative transmission routes such as congenital transmission. We evaluated the scientific research on this subject. METHODS: We searched the Scielo, BVS, and PubMed databases from 2006 to 2017. RESULTS: We identified a small number of published articles, mostly in journals with an impact factor less than 3.0. Studies on human congenital transmission of CD were carried out in only seven different countries. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the lack of research on congenital CD.

BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi circulates in sylvatic habitats, mainly through blood-feeding triatomines, although other routes also contribute to its dispersion. Sexual transmission of T. cruzi is an understudied topic, especially among wild mammals. Because of the difficulties inherent to field work, experimentally infected mice are frequently used to evaluate the transmission of T. cruzi. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the sexual transmission of T. cruzi in acutely infected mice. METHODS Male and female mice in the acute phase of Chagas disease were mated with naïve partners. Then, parasitological tests, immunohistochemistry, serological assays, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to detect infection. FINDINGS Parasitological analysis showed trypomastigotes in the blood of 20% of the naïve mice after mating with infected partners. Serological assays detected anti-T. cruzi antibodies in all naïve females mated with infected males and in 60% of naïve males mated with infected females. PCR showed T. cruzi nDNA bands for all naïve mice mated with infected partners. The possibility of sexual transmission was also confirmed by visualisation of amastigotes in the testes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that sexual transmission of T. cruzi is an ordinary event that may contribute to maintenance of the parasite's enzootic cycle.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease surveillance requires current knowledge on synanthropic triatomines. We analyzed the occurrence and Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates of triatomine bugs in central Brazil, during 2012-2014. METHODS: Triatomines were collected inside or around houses, and T. cruzi infection was determined by optical microscopy and conventional/quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of the 2706 triatomines collected, Triatoma sordida was the most frequent species in Goiás State, whereas Panstrongylus megistus predominated in the Federal District. Parasites identified were T. cruzi, T. rangeli, and Blastocrithidia sp. CONCLUSIONS: P. megistus and T. sordida sustained the risk of T. cruzi transmission to humans in central Brazil.

BACKGROUND The Trypanosoma cruzi infection endemic in Latin America has now spread to several countries across four continents; this endemic involves triatomine vector-free protists. We hypothesised that the sexual transmission of T. cruzi contributes to the ongoing spread of Chagas disease. OBJECTIVES A short-term longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate this hypothesis. METHODS The study population comprised 109 subjects from four families, among whom 21 had been diagnosed with acute Chagas disease by direct parasitological analysis. Blood mononuclear cells and serum samples were obtained from each study subject once per year for three consecutive years. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence serological examinations were used to detect specific T. cruzi antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction of T. cruzi DNA revealed 188-nucleotide bands, which hybridised to a specific radiolabelled probe and were confirmed by cloning and sequencing. RESULTS Three independent assessments at different time points revealed T. cruzi nuclear DNA footprints in 76% (83/109) of the study population with active infection. In contrast, the ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence assays detected the T. cruzi antibody in 28.4% (31/109) of the study samples. Moreover, the semen from 82.6% (19/23) of subjects people revealed harboured the 188- bp base pair T. cruzi footprint. Interestingly, the ejaculates of nuclear DNA-positive Chagas patient transmitted the T. cruzi upon peritoneal injection or infusion in the vagina of mice, and amastigotes were detected in the skeletal muscle, myocardium, vas deferens, and uterine tube. MAIN CONCLUSIONS T. cruzi infections can be transmitted from females or males to naïve mates through intercourse, and progeny showed discrepancies between the ratios of nuclear DNA footprints and specific antibody that can be explained by the tolerance attained during early embryo growth. Additional studies are needed to develop drugs to eradicate the infections. Additionally, the importance of a vigorous education, information, and communication program to prevent sexually transmitted Chagas disease in humans cannot be underemphasised.