Development and comparison of enzyme immunoassays for diagnosis of Chagas' disease using fixed forms of Trypanosoma cruzi (Epimastigotes, Amastigotes, and Trypomastigotes) and assessment of antigen stability for the three assays

J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Apr;42(4):1766-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.4.1766-1769.2004.

Abstract

Three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for diagnosis of Chagas' disease were developed with fixed forms of Trypanosoma cruzi using a panel of 435 sera from the following groups: Venezuelan subjects positive by immunofluorescence (n = 70), Venezuelan healthy controls (n = 85), healthy Canadians (n = 166), and subjects with other parasitic diseases (n = 114). All assays achieved 100% sensitivity and reasonable specificity for amastigotes (97.6%), epimastigotes (98.3%), and trypomastigotes (99.3%). The fixed-trypomastigote assay was stable over 4 months at 4 degrees C and room temperature. These data suggest that a fixed-trypomastigote EIA may be a suitable candidate for blood bank screening.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Canada
  • Chagas Disease / diagnosis*
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / growth & development
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*
  • Venezuela

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan