Açai (Euterpe precatoria Mart. Arecaceae) from the Northern Region of Bolivia is not contaminated with Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

AbstractChagas disease is a very important public health problem in America. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by vectors such as Triatomine insects. However, oral transmission is generating more T. cruzi infections than vectorial transmission in Brazilian Amazonic regions, probably due to the increased consumption of tropical fruits such as açai. Açai palms have become very popular due to its good nutritional properties. Açai fruits have different sources depending of their geographical origin. Açai palms (Euterpe oleracea) in Brazil are cultivated, while in Bolivia grow in wild populations and belongs to a different species, the solitary açai (Euterpe precatoria). Only açai from Brazil has been involved in T. cruzi oral transmission, while Bolivian açai has been regarded as disease free. In order to verify the absence of T. cruzi on açai products from Bolivia, we developed a method to detect T. cruzi DNA by real-Time PCR with internal controls for solitary açai. In this study we show that açai good manufacturing process did not interfere with the detection of açai or T. cruzi DNA. Finally, we report that freshly collected açai fruits and açai frozen pulps from Bolivia were not contaminated with T. cruzi.