Benznidazole treatment in children infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: serological and molecular follow-up.

MONJE RUMI MM; GIL FJ; ALBERTI D'AMATO, AM; PEREZ BRANDAN, C; RAGONE PG; LAUTHIER JJ; TOMASINI N; CIMINO RO; ORELLANA V; LACUNZA D; NASSER JR; BASOMBRÍO MA; DIOSQUE P

ACTA TROPICA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012

0001-706X

A total of 221 children from two rural settlements in Northern Argentina were examined for Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Blood samples were taken for conventional serology tests and Polymerase Chain Reaction assays (PCR). Serological results indicated that 25.79% (57/221) were reactive against T. cruzi antigens. PCR analyses were performed on seropositive samples showing presence of parasite DNA in 27 out of 57 samples. All seropositive children underwent specific chemotherapy with Benznidazole (5mg/kg/day) for a period of two months and were monitored two and five years after treatment. Serological conversion was observed at two years post -treatment in one child, and at five years in two children. However, at the end of the follow-up period, T. cruzi DNA could not be detected by PCR in samples from treated children, except in two cases. In addition, and through the immunological marker TSSA-II, the results showed that most of them were infected by parasites belonging to DTU TcII and/or TcV and/or TcVI. Altogether, results of the follow-up of treated children showed a low rate of seroconversion; however trend towards seroconversion was evident at five years post-treatment. On the other hand, detection of T. cruzi DNA by PCR significantly decreased after Benznidazole treatment.