Early detection and persistent positivity of anti-Leishmania antibodies using a recombinant protein-based ELISA in naturally infected dogs in Brazil.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum, for which dogs constitute the main urban parasite reservoir. Control measures and the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) are essential to reduce VL cases. Early and accurate detection of L.

Performance of recombinant chimeric proteins in the serological diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs.

Background: Dogs are considered sentinels in areas of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission risk to humans. ELISA is generally the method of choice for diagnosing T. cruzi exposure in dogs, but its performance substantially depends on the antigenic matrix employed.

Performance Assessment of Four Chimeric Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens Based on Antigen-Antibody Detection for Diagnosis of Chronic Chagas Disease.

The performance of serologic tests in chronic Chagas disease diagnosis largely depends on the type and quality of the antigen preparations that are used for detection of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies. Whole-cell T. cruzi extracts or recombinant proteins have shown variation in the performance and cross-reactivity.

Multi-antigen print immunoassay (MAPIA)-based evaluation of novel recombinant Leishmania infantum antigens for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Domestic dogs are the principal reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum in regions where visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic. Although serologic methods are frequently used for the screening of infected dogs, antibody-based tests require further assessment, due to lack of sensitivity and specificity. In this study, we employed a multi-antigen printing immunoassay (MAPIA) to compare the antibody responses to novel recombinant proteins of L.

Viability study of a multiplex diagnostic platform for Chagas disease.

A new multiplex assay platform was evaluated to detect Trypanosoma cruzi infection using the recombinant antigens CRA, FRA, CRAFRA fusion and parasite lysate. The antigens presented different sensitivity and specificity in a singleplex test when compared to a serial dilution of two pools comprising 10 positive serum samples and one pool of 10 negative samples. The recombinant protein CRA presented lower sensitivity (55%) in contrast to the 100% specificity and sensitivity of FRA, CRAFRA and T.

Antibody isotype responses in Balb/c mice immunized with the cytoplasmic repetitive antigen and flagellar repetitive antigen of Trypanosoma cruzi.

In the present report we analyzed the levels of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 isotypes from Balb/c mice immunized with cytoplasmic repetitive antigen (CRA), and flagellar repetitive antigen (FRA) of Trypanosoma cruzi. The immunization was done by subcutaneous route three times (20 days apart) and the analysis was performed 14 days after each treatment. CRA-immunized mice produced high levels of all IgG isotypes, mainly IgG3 and IgG1.