1994•FEMS Microbiology LettersOpen access
High correlation between Chagas' disease serology and PCR-based detection ofTrypanosoma cruzikinetoplast DNA in Bolivian children living in an endemic area
Patrick Wincker, Marie-France Bosseno, Constança Britto, Nina Yaksic, Maria Angélica Cardoso, Carlos Medicis Morel, Simone Frédérique Brenià ̈re
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Abstract
The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification is a potentially powerful tool for the parasitological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. We have applied this technique in a field situation in Bolivia, where 45 children from a primary school were subjected to serological testing, buffy coat analysis and PCR diagnosis. 26 of the 28 serology-positive individuals were also positive by PCR. In addition, two serology-negative children gave a positive result by PCR, including one who was positive in the buffy coat test. These results suggest that PCR detection of T. cruzi DNA in blood can be a very useful complement to serology in Chagas' disease diagnosis in Bolivia.