[Hemoculture: sensitive technique in the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in chagasic patients in the chronic phase of Chagas disease].
The sensitivity of hemocultures, performed once or three times, was investigated in 52 patients in the chronic phase of Chagas disease. Modifications were introduced in the technique such as, processing the blood more rapidly, gently homogenizing the cultures and examining them after 120 days of culture. Our results show a high percent age of positivity i.e. 79% and 94% of patients submitted, respectively, to one or three tests. No significant differences related to the patients age were detected, which varied from 14 to 82 years old. Our results demonstrate that hemoculture is a sensitive method for the parasitological diagnosis of Chagas disease and is ideal for monitoring cure in treated patients.
Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz e Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG.
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Krettli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000302:isolation & purification*
Hemocultura: técnica sensível na detecção do Trypanosoma cruzi em pacientes chagásicos na fase crônica da doença de chagas.