title: Monitoring Trypanosoma cruzi infection in triatomines using PCR in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to assess the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a method for detecting Trypanosoma cruzi infection in triatomines that had been previously determined by microscopic examination in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 515 specimens were collected. Material from the digestive tract of each triatomine was analyzed for the presence of T. cruzi by microscopic examination and PCR using the 121/122 primer set.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 515 specimens tested, 58 (11.3%) were positive by microscopy and 101 (19.61%) were positive by PCR and there was an association between the results of the techniques (χ2 = 53.354, p = 0.001). The main species of triatomine identified was T. sordida (95.5%)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PCR in entomological surveillance may contribute to a better assessment of the occurrence of T. cruzi in triatomine populations.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. mccominetti@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marlon Cezar
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cominetti
authors.forename: Robson Ferreira Cavalcante de
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Guilmara Maria do Amaral
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014225:Triatominae / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan