title: Trypanosoma cruzi in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis: an indirect fluorescent antibody test for the diagnosis and follow-up of natural and experimental infections.
abstract: The use of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) performed in a "sandwich" technique has demonstrated: (i) the usefulness of the test for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis; (ii) the existence of differences in the serological response of the opossum, that were related to the parasite strain and were clearly evident during the follow-up of experimental infections in laboratory born specimens; (iii) that, despite a good correlation between serological and parasitological examinations, IFAT was the most sensitive diagnostic test used, followed by xenodiagnosis; and, (iv) that in general, the opossum D. marsupialis seems to be a good responder to T. cruzi antigens.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D009893:Opossums / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors