Chagas disease: an overview of diagnosis

Abstract

Abbreviations: IF, indirect immuno fluorescence; ELISA, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay; IH, indirect hemagglutination; SAPA/TS, shed acute-phase antigens/transsialidase; TESA: trypomastigote excreted and secreted antigen; IA: immunoagglutination assay; Ab, antibodies; Ag, antigens; PCR, polymerase chain reaction J Microbiol Exp. 2018;6(3):151-157. 151 AbstractChagas disease, caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, afflicts millions of people, mainly affecting poor and neglected populations. The different transmission routes, the high genetic variability of the parasite, the different detection methods as well as the distinct phases of the disease, influence negatively the diagnosis accuracy of the disease. Diagnostic tests can range from simple parasitological techniques to complex molecular and serological techniques that can be used for early diagnosis in the acute phase of the disease, the determination of congenital transmission, to determine the epidemiological behavior of the disease, to detect the presence of the parasite, both in blood transfusions, as in organ transplantation, among others. This review addresses some of the most widely used tools to detect T. cruzi infection in different scenarios.

Could angiotensin-modulating drugs be relevant for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection? A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence

“…However, cardiac function and severity of heart damage were consistently determined in all studies, reinforcing patients’ characterization. The under-reporting of diagnostic tools represents an important methodological limitation, since different diagnostic strategies are required to determine the stage of the disease (Balouz et al ., 2017; Rodea et al ., 2018). Direct parasitological examination (blood smear or microscopic analysis of tissue fragments) is more indicated in detecting acute infections, which can be confirmed with a high sensitivity (around 99%) by serological diagnostic tools, especially indirect haemagglutination, ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence (Andrade et al ., 2011; Dias et al ., 2016; Nogueira et al ., 2018).…”