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Evaluation of recombinant trypomastigote surface antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi in screening sera from a population in rural northeastern Brazil endemic for Chagas' disease.
Title | Evaluation of recombinant trypomastigote surface antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi in screening sera from a population in rural northeastern Brazil endemic for Chagas' disease. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 1992 |
Authors | Cetron, MS, Hoff, R, Kahn, S, Eisen, H, Van Voorhis, WC |
Journal | Acta Trop |
Volume | 50 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 259-66 |
Date Published | 1992 Feb |
ISSN | 0001-706X |
Keywords | Animals, Antibodies, Protozoan, Antigens, Protozoan, Antigens, Surface, Brazil, Chagas Disease, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Recombinant Proteins, Rural Population, Sensitivity and Specificity, Trypanosoma cruzi |
Abstract | A perfect serologic test for infection with Trypanosoma cruzi does not exist. This study uses recombinant T. cruzi surface proteins in the antibody capture enzyme linked immunoabsorption assay (ELISA); and compares this approach to the more standard immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Three recombinant antigens are studied: F1-160 corresponding to the 160 kDa flagellar associated surface protein of trypomastigotes (the motile form of T. cruzi in mammalian infections); and SA 85-1.1 and 1.2 corresponding to different members of the 85 kDa family of surface proteins expressed by trypomastigotes and amastigotes (the replicative, non-motile form of T. cruzi in mammalian infections). Each recombinant antigen is found to be highly specific (range 86-94%) but relatively insensitive (range 36-52%) when used to screen for antibodies to T. cruzi. Defining seropositivity as reactivity to any of the three recombinant antigens markedly increases the sensitivity (72%) with only a minor reduction in specificity (82%). Thus, employing recombinant T. cruzi antigens to screen for T. cruzi infection has promise, but improvements in sensitivity must be made before widespread utilization is recommended. |
Alternate Journal | Acta Trop. |
PubMed ID | 1348602 |