title: Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA within murine cardiac tissue sections by in situ polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The use of in situ techniques to detect DNA and RNA sequences has proven to be an invaluable technique with paraffin-embedded tissue. Advances in non-radioactive detection systems have further made these procedures shorter and safer. We report the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, via indirect and direct in situ polymerace chain reaction within paraffin-embedded murine cardiac tissue sections. The presence of three T. cruzi specific DNA sequences were evaluated: a 122 base pair (bp) sequence localized within the minicircle network, a 188 bp satellite nuclear repetitive sequence and a 177 bp sequence that codes for a flagellar protein. In situ hybridization alone was sensitive enough to detect all three T. cruzi specific DNA sequences.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, The Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Rodrigues
authors.forename: Danyvid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olivares-Villagómez
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Vnencak-Jones
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McCurley
authors.forename: Clint E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; D016054:DNA, Protozoan