02245nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260002100042653002000063653001700083653001400100653001300114653001100127100001600138700001700154700001500171700001500186700002300201700001900224700001600243700001800259245010800277856006900385300000900454490000700463520147100470022001401941       2025                            d  c11/2025bMDPI AG10aChagas' disease10aEpidemiology10aDiagnosis10aSerology10aBrazil1 ada Silva FM1 aBanaggia RDL1 aArbusti GM1 aFidelis SN1 aPrevitalli-Silva H1 aZangirolami LA1 aCardoso FDO1 aCalabrese KDS00aEpidemiological Surveillance of Chagas Disease in Rural Communities of a Municipality in Piauí, Brazil  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/12/1803/pdf?version=1764046486  a1-120 v153 a<jats:p>Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in Latin America, particularly in rural areas. In Floriano, Piauí, Brazil, data on infection prevalence are limited. This cross-sectional population-based study assessed the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection and analyzed sociodemographic factors associated with seropositivity among residents of 41 rural communities in Floriano. A total of 1212 individuals aged over six years were examined, revealing a seroprevalence of 3.2% (39/1212), with positive cases detected in 17 communities. Infection was significantly associated with older age (≥60 years; p &lt; 0.0001), low educational level (p = 0.0184), retirement status (p &lt; 0.0001), and low income (p = 0.0505). Logistic regression confirmed age as the strongest determinant of infection (OR = 7.647; 95% CI: 3.741–18.61; p &lt; 0.0001), while higher monthly income showed a negative association with infection (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.01–0.82; p = 0.086), indicating a trend toward significance. These findings highlight the persistence of T. cruzi infection in rural Floriano, predominantly among elderly individuals living in poverty. The identification of previously undiagnosed chronic cases reinforces the urgent need for targeted epidemiological surveillance, early diagnosis, and community-based health education to strengthen local control and prevention strategies.</jats:p>  a2075-1729