Serum albumin and gamma globulin in Trypanosoma cruzi infections.

This paper examines the association between serum protein levels and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in a region of Central Brazil. 148 people 6 to 78 years of age, were included in this study. There were no statistically significant difference in albumin levels between those with positive T. cruzi serology (2.94 +/- 0.74 g/100 ml) and those with negative serology (3.04 +/- 0.61 g/100 ml). Thus the null hypothesis of no association between infection with T. cruzi and serum albumin is accepted. Gamma-globulin levels were elevated in both groups and were significantly greater (p less than 0.05) in the group with positive T. cruzi serology (1.91 +/- 0.41 g/100 ml) than in the group with negative serology (1.75 +/- 0.41 g/100 ml). The serum albumin levels suggest that malnutrition (either associated with low protein intake or increased loss due to hookworm) is a major problem and unlikely to change if T. cruzi transmission was controlled.