Usefulness of polymerase chain reaction tests in Chagas disease studies.

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is a highly sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic tool for Chagas disease. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan flagellate and is endemic to the Americas. While conventional serological methods are still used in the diagnosis of Chagas disease, they are being gradually replaced by molecular methods like PCR.

Call for Consensus in the Evaluation of Circulating Matrix Metalloproteinases in Chagas Disease.

Infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is endemic in parts of America. Approximately 30% of people infected develop Chagas cardiomyopathy, the most common cause of heart failure in these regions. No suitable biomarker that reflects the evolution of the disease has been widely accepted as of yet.

Characterization and Diagnostic Application of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigote Excreted-Secreted Antigens Shed in Extracellular Vesicles Released from Infected Mammalian Cells.

Chagas disease, caused by , although endemic in many parts of Central and South America, is emerging as a global health threat through the potential contamination of blood supplies. Consequently, in the absence of a gold standard assay for the diagnosis of Chagas disease, additional antigens or strategies are needed. A proteomic analysis of the trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigens (TESA) associated with exosomal vesicles shed by identified ∼80 parasite proteins, with the majority being -sialidases.

Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 as diagnostic markers in the progression to Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is endemic in parts of Central and South America. Approximately 30% of those infected develop Chagas cardiomyopathy, the most common cause of heart failure in this region. No suitable biomarker is available that reflects the evolution of the disease.