Benznidazole treatment in chronic children infected withTrypanosoma cruzi: Serological and molecular follow-up of patientsand identification of Discrete Typing Units

M.M. MONJE RUMIA, C. PÉREZ BRANDÁN, J.F. GIL, A.M. ALBERTI DAMATO, P.G. RAGONE, J.J. LAUTHIER, N. TOMASINI, R.O. CIMINO, V. ORELLANA, C.D. LACUNZA, J.R. NASSER, M.A. BASOMBRÍO, P. DIOSQUE

ACTA TROPICA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 p. 130 - 136

0001-706X

A total of 221 children from two rural settlements in Northeast Argentina were examined for T. cruziinfection. Blood samples were taken for serology tests and PCR assays. In addition, T. cruzi DiscreteTyping Units (DTUs) were determined by hybridization with specific DNA probes of the minicircle hyper-variable regions (mHVR). Serological results indicated that 26% (57/215) were reactive against T. cruziantigens. PCR analyses were performed on seropositive samples showing presence of parasite DNA in 31out of 53 samples (58.5%). All seropositive children underwent specific chemotherapy with Benznida-zole (5 mg/kg/day) for a period of two months and were monitored two and five years after treatment.Overall the treatment was well tolerated and low side effects were observed. Serological conversion wasobserved at two years post -treatment in one child form Pampa Ávila and at five years in two childrenfrom Tres Estacas. However, at the end of the follow-up period, T. cruzi DNA could not be detected byPCR in samples from treated children, except in two cases. In addition, the results of hybridizations withspecific DNA probes showed that DTU TcV was detected in 68% (21/31), TcVI in 7% (2/31) and TcV/VI in3% (1/31) of the samples. Altogether, results of the follow-up of treated children showed a low rate ofseroconversion; however trend toward seroconversion was evident at five years post-treatment. On theother hand, detection of T. cruzi DNA by PCR significantly decreased after Benznidazole treatment. Theexistence of data regarding serological and molecular follow-ups from controlled studies in the ChacoRegion will be important for future treatment efforts against T. cruzi infection in this region. The resultsobtained in the present study represent a contribution in this regard.