Use of PCR to detect chagas disease during childhood: a comparative approach.

DOÑA, R. D.; SISSO, J.; LEDEZMA, C.; ENRIQUE CAVIEDES VIDAL

Merlo, San Luis

Congreso; Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2004

USE OF PCR TO DETECT CHAGAS DISEASE DURING CHILDHOOD: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH. Doña RD, Sisso 4 Ledezma C, Caviedes- Vidal E Unidad Invest Cs Biol, Univ Nac San Luis, 5700 San Luis.   Chagas disease is endemic in Cuyo region. San Luis Health Agencies have monitored during several years the incidence of this disease in children, reporting indexes of 1.57 to 2.43% for children of age 5 to 9 years old. The importance of a precocious detection is because this disease can be completely cured when it is treated before 14 years old. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of new molecular technology (e.g. using Polimerase Chain Reactions PCR) as a tool for epidemiological detection of the Chagas disease. PCR may be useful in those cases where the parasites are in the blood circulation. Another advantage is that it is a direct determination method. To evaluate this method we screened sample of 108 children (age: 6-15 years old) enrolled in a school of Juana Koslay (San Luis). Blood samples were obtained by vein puncture without anticoagulants. Sera were assayed using two serological methods, HA1 (indirect hemaglutination) and ELISA tests. On the remnant coagulum, a PCR assay was performed using2 primers (#I21 & #122) that amplify differentially kDNA from Trypanosoma cruzi and T rangeli. Serological tests (titres > 1/32) showed two positive children, whereas by PCR only one of those cases was detected. We conclude that molecular tests have a relative importance in epidemiological screening, since it requires large blood samples, technicians with high expertise and instruments and reagents of elevated cost compared to traditional serological methods.