title: Molecular characterization of human Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from endemic areas in Panama.
abstract: The present work provides information on Trypanosoma cruzi genotype circulating in endemic areas of Chagas disease in Panama. A total of 26 crude stocks of T. cruzi, isolated from the blood of persons with different clinical profiles of Chagas disease were collected and crio-conserved until used. Most of the stocks had been characterized by means of isoenzyme electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes. The clinical profiles of infected persons included 9 (34.6%) asymptomatic and 17 acute (65.4%) including 5 (19.2%) fatal cases, 2 under 5 years old and 3 adults. A multiplex-PCR assay based on the amplification of the non-transcribed spacer of the mini-exon gene was performed. All stocks of T. cruzi included in the study were found to correspond to Tc I group. This result supports the predominance of T. cruzi-I in the transmission cycles affecting the human population in the Republic of Panama.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama, Panama. osousa@ancon.up.ac.pa
authors.forename: Octavio E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Franklyn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samudio
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Juncá
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Calzada
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004588:Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010176:Panama; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes