Predominance of Trypanosoma rangeli infection in children from a Chagas disease endemic area in the west-shore of the Panama canal.
A total of 206 serum samples from children (3-14 years old) living in the Amador County (La Chorrera District, Province of Panama) were screened by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi. Positive sera were confirmed by recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. The presence of blood trypanosomes was investigated by hemoculture and subsequently identify by a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by dot blot hybridization. The results indicated a prevalence of 9.7% for trypanosome infections, a seroprevalence of 2.9% against T. cruzi and a predominance of T. rangeli infection (6.8%). The immunological and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Saldaña
Azael
A
Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, PO Box 0816-02593, Panama 5, Republic of Panama. azasal@hotmail.com
Samudio
Franklyn
F
Miranda
Aracelis
A
Herrera
Lissette M
LM
Saavedra
Sara P
SP
Cáceres
Lorenzo
L
Bayard
Vicente
V
Calzada
José E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan