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 González, N Articles by Ramírez, J L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by González, N Articles by Ramírez, J L

Identification and detection of Trypanosoma cruzi by using a DNA amplification fingerprint obtained from the ribosomal intergenic spacer.

Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida.

ABSTRACT

We designed a PCR assay targeted on repeated elements of the ribosomal intergenic spacer which produces highly polymorphic DNA band patterns for different strains of Trypanosoma cruzi. By labeling the PCR products with digoxigenin and by chemiluminescence detection, we improved the assay sensitivity by three orders of magnitude to get T. cruzi strain fingerprints in feces of the trypanosome-infected triatomine bug vector. We also developed a capture assay for the digoxigenin-labeled PCR products that allowed us to detect T. cruzi in triatomine bug vector feces and in human serum samples with a solid support.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Chiurillo, M. A., Crisante, G., Rojas, A., Peralta, A., Dias, M., Guevara, P., Anez, N., Ramirez, J. L. (2003). Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli Infection by Duplex PCR Assay Based on Telomeric Sequences. CVI 10: 775-779 [Abstract] [Full Text]