Rapid diagnostic tests duo as alternative to conventional serological assays for conclusive Chagas disease diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It affects several million people, mainly in Latin America, and severe cardiac and/or digestive complications occur in ~30% of the chronically infected patients. Disease acute stage is mostly asymptomatic and infection goes undiagnosed. In the chronic phase direct parasite detection is hampered due to its concealed presence and diagnosis is achieved by serological methods, like ELISA or indirect hemagglutination assays. Agreement in at least two tests must be obtained due to parasite wide antigenic variability. These techniques require equipped labs and trained personnel and are not available in distant regions. As a result, many infected people often remain undiagnosed until it is too late, as the two available chemotherapies sho

SUBMITTER: Eguez KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5391121 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature