Congenital Chagas disease in a Bolivian newborn in Bergamo (Italy)

Chagas disease (CD) is an uncommon disease in Europe. Its epidemiology has changed because of mass migration from Latin America to Europe. Herein we describe a congenital case of CD in a Bolivian newborn in Bergamo, the main city of residence for the Bolivian community in Italy. At delivery, serological analyses evidenced IgG antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi both in the child and mother, as expected. Hemoscopic analyses on peripheral blood were repeatedly negative during the first months of life. Eventually, thanks to T. cruzi Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity on peripheral blood and development of progressive anemia in the following weeks, congenital Chagas disease was diagnosed and benznidazole-based therapy started. A progressive antibodies' index decrease was observed till negativity (306 days apart). RT-PCR was negative at the end of treatment. Our case is instructive and management of congenital CD is discussed from the perspective of a non-endemic country

Rapid detection of cryptococcal antigen by a flow assay

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Tests for quick detection of the cryptococcal antigen are needed. This study compares the performance of a lateral flow assay (LFA) to the latex agglutination method. Thirty-five cryopreserved positive samples (sera and cerebrospinal fluids) plus three negative sera for control have been examined. LFA does not need high-temperature incubation or enzyme pre-treatment. All the results, except for one serum, agree with previous obtained with latex agglutination method. LFA has an important clinical utility for its rapidity and sensitivity, and it also can be used as a point-of-care test