Application of WHO International Biological Reference Standards to evaluate commercial serological tests for chronic Chagas disease.

BACKGROUND Chagas disease, resulting from Trypanosoma cruzi infections, continues to be a health concern mainly in Latin American countries where the parasite is endemic. The laboratory diagnosis of a chronic infection is determined through serological assays for antibodies against T. cruzi and several tests are available that differ in key components, formats and methodologies.

Chagas disease in Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil: left ventricle aneurysm and the risk of death in the 24-year interval.

Background: Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is indicator of high morbidity in Chagas' disease. A cross-sectional study performed identified LVA in 18.8% of the chronic chagasic patients (CCP).

Human acute Chagas disease: changes in factor VII, activated protein C and hepatic enzymes from patients of oral outbreaks in Pará State (Brazilian Amazon).

Oral transmission of Chagas disease has been increasing in Latin American countries. The present study aimed to investigate changes in hepatic function, coagulation factor levels and parasite load in human acute Chagas disease (ACD) secondary to oral Trypanosoma cruzi transmission. Clinical and epidemiological findings of 102 infected individuals attended in the State of Pará from October 2013 to February 2016 were included.

Correction to: Use and retention of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in a malaria risk area in the Brazilian Amazon: a 5-year follow-up intervention.

Following publication of the original article [1], the corresponding author flagged that the particle 'de' in their name had been placed incorrectly.

Asymptomatic Plasmodium infection in a residual malaria transmission area in the Atlantic Forest region: Implications for elimination.

Introduction: Elimination of malaria in areas of interrupted transmission warrants careful case assessment to avoid the reintroduction of this disease. Occasional malaria cases are reported among visitors of the Atlantic Forest area of Brazil, while data on residents of this area are scarce.

Methods: A sectional study was carried out to examine 324 individuals living in a municipality where autochthonous cases were detected.