Open AccessHigh correlation between Chagas' disease serology and PCR‐based detection of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA in Bolivian children living in an endemic area
Author(s) -
Wincker Patrick,
Bosseno MarieFrance,
Britto Constança,
Yaksic Nina,
Cardoso Maria Angélica,
Morel Carlos Médicis,
Brenière Simone Frédérique
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07318.x
Subject(s) - kinetoplast , serology , buffy coat , trypanosoma cruzi , chagas disease , polymerase chain reaction , biology , virology , kinetoplastida , trypanosomiasis , xenodiagnosis , immunology , dna , genetics , antibody , parasite hosting , malaria , gene , protozoal disease , world wide web , computer science
The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification is a potentially powerful tool for the parasitological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. We have applied this technique in a field situation in Bolivia, where 45 children from a primary school were subjected to serological testing, buffy coat analysis and PCR diagnosis. 26 of the 28 serology‐positive individuals were also positive by PCR. In addition, two serology‐negative children gave a positive result by PCR, including one who was positive in the buffy coat test. These results suggest that PCR detection of T. cruzi DNA in blood can be a very useful complement to serology in Chagas' disease diagnosis in Bolivia.