TcTASV Antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi: Utility for diagnosis and high accuracy as biomarkers of treatment efficacy in pediatric patients

MONJE-RUMI, MERCEDES; TOMASINI, NICOLÁS; FLORIDIA-YAPUR, NOELIA; CIMINO, RUBÉN; LAUTHIER, JUAN J.; NASSER, JULIO R.; DIOSQUE, PATRICIO; MONJE-RUMI, MERCEDES; SANCHEZ, DANIEL O.; TOMASINI, NICOLÁS; FLORIDIA-YAPUR, NOELIA; CIMINO, RUBÉN; LAUTHIER, JUAN J.; NASSER, JULIO R.; DIOSQUE, PATRICIO; SANCHEZ, DANIEL O.; RAGONE, PAULA; D'AMATO, ANAHÍ ALBERTI; GIL, JOSÉ F.; TEKIEL, VALERIA; RAGONE, PAULA; D'AMATO, ANAHÍ ALBERTI; GIL, JOSÉ F.; TEKIEL, VALERIA

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE

Año: 2019 vol. 101 p. 1135 - 1138

0002-9637

The discovery and characterization of novel parasite antigens to improve the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi by serological methods and for accurate and rapid follow-up of treatment efficiency are still needed. TcTASV is a T. cruzi-specific multigene family, whose products are expressed on the parasite stages present in the vertebrate host. In a previous work, a mix of antigens from subfamilies TcTASV-A and TcTASV-C (Mix A + C) was sensitive and specific to identify dogs with active infection of high epidemiological relevance. Here, TcTASV-A and TcTASV-C were assayed separately as well as together (Mix A + C) in an ELISA format on human samples. The Mix A + C presented moderate sensitivity (78%) but high diagnostic accuracy with a 100% of specificity, evaluated on healthy, leishmaniasic, and Strongyloides stercoralis infected patients. Moreover, antibody levels of pediatric patients showed-2 years posttreatment-diminished reactivity against the Mix A + C (P < 0.0001), pointing TcTASV antigens as promising tools for treatment follow-up.