This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Feilij, H Articles by Gonzalez Cappa, S M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Feilij, H Articles by Gonzalez Cappa, S M

Direct micromethod for diagnosis of acute and congenital Chagas' disease.

ABSTRACT

A microhematocrit concentration method (MH) for immediate diagnosis of Chagas' disease during the acute stage or in congenital cases was standardized. Parasitemia as low as 1,000 parasites per ml was detected, after centrifugation of six 50-microliters capillary tubes, by 10-min microscopic observation of each buffy coat spread between slide and cover glass. Operator's time was reduced by at least one-third when compared with a fresh blood observation (FB). In 12 of the 15 patients studied, diagnosis was performed in 4.9 +/- 3.08 min with MH, whereas 27.0 +/- 12.1 min were necessary when FB was used. In the three remaining patients whose FB results were negative, MH became positive after 13, 16, and 40 min. In our experience, FB proved to be more sensitive than previously reported. Suckling mouse inoculation also proved to be sensitive but, as in xenodiagnosis and in hemoculture, the delay in getting the final result was a limiting factor.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Diez, C. N., Manattini, S., Zanuttini, J. C., Bottasso, O., Marcipar, I. (2008). The Value of Molecular Studies for the Diagnosis of Congenital Chagas Disease in Northeastern Argentina. Am J Trop Med Hyg 78: 624-627 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Negrette, O. S., Mora, M. C., Basombrio, M. A. (2005). High Prevalence of Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi Infection and Family Clustering in Salta, Argentina. Pediatrics 115: e668-e672 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• TORRICO, F., ALONSO-VEGA, C., SUAREZ, E., RODRIGUEZ, P., TORRICO, M.-C., DRAMAIX, M., TRUYENS, C., CARLIER, Y. (2004). MATERNAL TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI INFECTION, PREGNANCY OUTCOME, MORBIDITY, AND MORTALITY OF CONGENITALLY INFECTED AND NON-INFECTED NEWBORNS IN BOLIVIA. Am J Trop Med Hyg 70: 201-209 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Schijman, A. G., Altcheh, J., Burgos, J. M., Biancardi, M., Bisio, M., Levin, M. J., Freilij, H. (2003). Aetiological treatment of congenital Chagas' disease diagnosed and monitored by the polymerase chain reaction. J Antimicrob Chemother 52: 441-449 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• VIRREIRA, M., TORRICO, F., TRUYENS, C., ALONSO-VEGA, C., SOLANO, M., CARLIER, Y., SVOBODA, M. (2003). COMPARISON OF POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION METHODS FOR RELIABLE AND EASY DETECTION OF CONGENITAL TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI INFECTION. Am J Trop Med Hyg 68: 574-582 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Alba Soto, C. D., Mirkin, G. A., Solana, M. E., Gonzalez Cappa, S. M. (2003). Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Modulates In Vivo Expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Molecules on Antigen-Presenting Cells and T-Cell Stimulatory Activity of Dendritic Cells in a Strain-Dependent Manner. Infect. Immun. 71: 1194-1199 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hermann, E., Truyens, C., Alonso-Vega, C., Even, J., Rodriguez, P., Berthe, A., Gonzalez-Merino, E., Torrico, F., Carlier, Y. (2002). Human fetuses are able to mount an adultlike CD8 T-cell response. Blood 100: 2153-2158 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vekemans, J., Truyens, C., Torrico, F., Solano, M., Torrico, M.-C., Rodriguez, P., Alonso-Vega, C., Carlier, Y. (2000). Maternal Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Upregulates Capacity of Uninfected Neonate Cells To Produce Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines. Infect. Immun. 68: 5430-5434 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sterin-Borda, L., Gorelik, G., Postan, M., Gonzalez Cappa, S., Borda, E. (1999). Alterations in cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors in chagasic mice and their association with circulating beta-adrenoceptor-related autoantibodies. Cardiovasc Res 41: 116-125 [Abstract] [Full Text]