[Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomines from Nuevo Leon, Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomines from Nuevo León using the standardization of an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.


METHODS
From July to September 2005, 52 triatomines were captured in General Terán, a municipality located in Nuevo León. They were analyzed using optical microscopy (OM) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as standards of reference, to develop a technique for detecting the parasite using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Using OM and PCR, 31 triatomines were found to be positive and 21 negative. Using ELISA, 27 samples were identified as positive and 25 negative (specificity 100%, sensitivity 87%, negative predictive value 84%, and positive predictive value 100%). The prevalence of infected triatomines was 59.61% with OM and PCR, and 51.92% with ELISA. Our data confirm that the ELISA assay in triatomines is a fast, reliable and useful tool.


CONCLUSIONS
Since it was possible to simultaneously analyze a large number of samples with high sensibility and specificity values, the ELISA test proves to be useful for new epidemiologic studies having a high number of vectors. It is also less expensive than PCR. It is therefore recommended for epidemiological and preventive surveillance programs as a first screening test before conducting a confirmatory test using PCR.
Molina-Garza
Zinnia Judith
ZJ
Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. Monterrey, México. molinazinnia@hotmail.com
Rosales-Encina
José Luis
JL
Galaviz-Silva
Lucio
L
Molina-Garza
Daniel
D
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008800:Mexico; D014225:Triatominae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan