# Trypanosoma-Cruzi Cross-Reactive Antibodies Longitudinal Follow-Up: A Prospective Observational Study in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

## TL;DR

This study tracks TcCRA antibodies in stem cell transplant patients to see if they can be transmitted from donors to recipients.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the transmission dynamics of TcCRA antibodies through allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

## Key findings

- TcCRA seroconversion occurred in 4 out of 24 recipients from TcCRA-positive donors.
- No seroconversion was observed in recipients from TcCRA-negative donors.
- The study suggests TcCRA may be passively or actively transmitted through stem cell transplantation.

## Abstract

Antibodies named TcCRA “Trypanosoma cruzi Cross Reactive Antibodies” were detected in 47% of blood donors from French population unexposed to the parasite. In order to evaluate the passive or active transmissibility of TcCRA and further characterize its role and etiology, we have conducted a study in a cohort of 47 patients who underwent allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations (allo-HSCT). Donors and recipients were tested for TcCRA prior to transplantation. Recipients were further tested during follow-up after transplantation. Demographical, clinical and biological data were collected. Our primary end-point was to assess the risk of TcCRA acquisition after transplantation. During this initial analysis, we observed no seroconversion in patients receiving cells from TcCRA negative donors (n = 23) but detected seroconversion in 4 out of 24 patients who received hematopoietic stem cells from positive donors. Here, we are discussing possible scenarios to explain TcCRA-immune status in recipient after transplantation.