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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2003, p. 5066-5070, Vol. 41, No. 11
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.11.5066-5070.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

PCR Assay for Monitoring Trypanosoma cruzi Parasitemia in Childhood after Specific Chemotherapy

Lúcia M. C. Galvão,1 Egler Chiari,1 Andréa M. Macedo,2 Alejandro O. Luquetti,3 Simonne A. Silva,4 and Ana Lúcia S. S. Andrade4*

Departamento de Parasitologia,1 Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais,2 Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina,3 Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Saúde Coletiva e Dermatologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, GoiÂnia, Brazil4

Received 9 May 2003/ Returned for modification 5 August 2003/ Accepted 20 August 2003

Assessment of cure of Trypanosoma cruzi infection by antibody seroconversion usually involves several years of follow-up. Parasitological negativity is useless for cure assessment, since even untreated patients mostly show negative results; conversely, positive tests are of great value because they indicate treatment failure. Here, PCR was used to assess the rate of specific chemotherapy failure in a well-characterized Brazilian cohort of T. cruzi-seropositive children, who were enrolled in a field trial of benznidazole (Bz) efficacy. Paired blood samples from 111 children were taken at baseline and 36 months after treatment with either Bz (n = 58) or a placebo (n = 53). DNA extraction and PCR amplification were carried out as previously described, and hybridization was performed with all PCR products. At the end of follow-up, PCR was positive for 39.6% of the patients in the Bz group versus 64.2% in the placebo group (P = 0.01). Untreated patients had a 1.6-fold-higher chance of remaining positive by PCR than those in the Bz group (P < 0.05). We conclude that PCR is a useful tool for revealing therapeutic failure of T. cruzi infection on a short-term basis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública—UFG, Rua Delenda R Melo, S/N, Setor Universitário, GoiÂnia, Goiás, Brasil. Phone and fax: 55-62-2027942. E-mail: ana{at}iptsp.ufg.br.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2003, p. 5066-5070, Vol. 41, No. 11
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.11.5066-5070.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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