Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induces the production of cross-reactive antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi proteins: A preliminary study

Objective: To evaluate the presence of cross-reactivity by anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi proteins in a screening test. Methods: Forty-three serum samples were obtained from personnel at the Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad in Mexico City who received one or two doses of the vaccine and were tested for T. cruzi infection using four tests: two ‘in house’ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), a commercial ELISA diagnostic kit and an immunoblot test. Results: IgG antibodies against the T. cruzi proteins were present in the serum of unvaccinated subjects and subjects who had received one or two doses of the vaccine. The positivity of the samples against T. cruzi was ruled out by means of a Western Blot assay, where all samples were negative for T. cruzi. Conclusion: The data suggest that people convalescing from coronavirus disease 2019 and those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine exhibit cross-reactive antibodies against T. cruzi antigens in ELISA assays.