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de Almeida EA, Mendes FDSNS, Ramos AN, de Sousa AS, Pavan TBS, Mediano MFF, Ostermayer AL, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Britto CFDPDC, Novaes CG, Correia D, Santos FLN, da Silva GMS, Fernandez ML, Lima MM, de Carvalho NB, Moreira ODC, Albajar-Viñas P, Leite RM, Palmeira SL, da Costa VM, Yasuda MAS. Guidelines for Trypanosoma cruzi-HIV Co-infection and other Immunosuppressive Conditions: Diagnosis, Treatment, Monitoring, and Implementation from the International Network of Care and Studies - 2023. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2023; 56:0549. [PMID: 38088667 PMCID: PMC10706049 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0549-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eros Antonio de Almeida
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Grupo de Estudos em doença de Chagas, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Alberto Novaes Ramos
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil
| | - Andréa Silvestre de Sousa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Tycha Bianca Sabaini Pavan
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Bahia, BA, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Christina Gallafrio Novaes
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Dalmo Correia
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - Fred Luciano Neves Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Bahia, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Marisa Liliana Fernandez
- Hospital de Infecciosas FJ Muñiz, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mayara Maia Lima
- Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Noêmia Barbosa de Carvalho
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Otacílio da Cruz Moreira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Pedro Albajar-Viñas
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruth Moreira Leite
- Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica Professor Alexandre Vranjac. Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Swamy Lima Palmeira
- Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil
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2
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Marin-Neto JA, Rassi A, Oliveira GMM, Correia LCL, Ramos Júnior AN, Luquetti AO, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Sousa ASD, Paola AAVD, Sousa ACS, Ribeiro ALP, Correia Filho D, Souza DDSMD, Cunha-Neto E, Ramires FJA, Bacal F, Nunes MDCP, Martinelli Filho M, Scanavacca MI, Saraiva RM, Oliveira Júnior WAD, Lorga-Filho AM, Guimarães ADJBDA, Braga ALL, Oliveira ASD, Sarabanda AVL, Pinto AYDN, Carmo AALD, Schmidt A, Costa ARD, Ianni BM, Markman Filho B, Rochitte CE, Macêdo CT, Mady C, Chevillard C, Virgens CMBD, Castro CND, Britto CFDPDC, Pisani C, Rassi DDC, Sobral Filho DC, Almeida DRD, Bocchi EA, Mesquita ET, Mendes FDSNS, Gondim FTP, Silva GMSD, Peixoto GDL, Lima GGD, Veloso HH, Moreira HT, Lopes HB, Pinto IMF, Ferreira JMBB, Nunes JPS, Barreto-Filho JAS, Saraiva JFK, Lannes-Vieira J, Oliveira JLM, Armaganijan LV, Martins LC, Sangenis LHC, Barbosa MPT, Almeida-Santos MA, Simões MV, Yasuda MAS, Moreira MDCV, Higuchi MDL, Monteiro MRDCC, Mediano MFF, Lima MM, Oliveira MTD, Romano MMD, Araujo NNSLD, Medeiros PDTJ, Alves RV, Teixeira RA, Pedrosa RC, Aras Junior R, Torres RM, Povoa RMDS, Rassi SG, Alves SMM, Tavares SBDN, Palmeira SL, Silva Júnior TLD, Rodrigues TDR, Madrini Junior V, Brant VMDC, Dutra WO, Dias JCP. SBC Guideline on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Cardiomyopathy of Chagas Disease - 2023. Arq Bras Cardiol 2023; 120:e20230269. [PMID: 37377258 PMCID: PMC10344417 DOI: 10.36660/abc.20230269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- José Antonio Marin-Neto
- Universidade de São Paulo , Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto , Ribeirão Preto , SP - Brasil
| | - Anis Rassi
- Hospital do Coração Anis Rassi , Goiânia , GO - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Alejandro Ostermayer Luquetti
- Centro de Estudos da Doença de Chagas , Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás , Goiânia , GO - Brasil
| | | | - Andréa Silvestre de Sousa
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | | | - Antônio Carlos Sobral Sousa
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe , São Cristóvão , SE - Brasil
- Hospital São Lucas , Rede D`Or São Luiz , Aracaju , SE - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Edecio Cunha-Neto
- Universidade de São Paulo , Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade, São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Felix Jose Alvarez Ramires
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Fernando Bacal
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | - Martino Martinelli Filho
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Maurício Ibrahim Scanavacca
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Roberto Magalhães Saraiva
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | | | - Adalberto Menezes Lorga-Filho
- Instituto de Moléstias Cardiovasculares , São José do Rio Preto , SP - Brasil
- Hospital de Base de Rio Preto , São José do Rio Preto , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | - Adriana Sarmento de Oliveira
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | - Ana Yecê das Neves Pinto
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | | | - Andre Schmidt
- Universidade de São Paulo , Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto , Ribeirão Preto , SP - Brasil
| | - Andréa Rodrigues da Costa
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | - Barbara Maria Ianni
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | - Carlos Eduardo Rochitte
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
- Hcor , Associação Beneficente Síria , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | - Charles Mady
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Christophe Chevillard
- Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Marselha - França
| | | | | | | | - Cristiano Pisani
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Edimar Alcides Bocchi
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Evandro Tinoco Mesquita
- Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro da Faculdade Federal Fluminense , Niterói , RJ - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Henrique Horta Veloso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | - Henrique Turin Moreira
- Hospital das Clínicas , Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto , Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - João Paulo Silva Nunes
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
- Fundação Zerbini, Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luiz Cláudio Martins
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Faculdade de Ciências Médicas , Campinas , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Marcos Vinicius Simões
- Universidade de São Paulo , Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto , Ribeirão Preto , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | - Maria de Lourdes Higuchi
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | - Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia (INC), Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brasil
| | - Mayara Maia Lima
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde , Ministério da Saúde , Brasília , DF - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Renato Vieira Alves
- Instituto René Rachou , Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Belo Horizonte , MG - Brasil
| | - Ricardo Alkmim Teixeira
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | - Roberto Coury Pedrosa
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho , Instituto do Coração Edson Saad - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Silvia Marinho Martins Alves
- Ambulatório de Doença de Chagas e Insuficiência Cardíaca do Pronto Socorro Cardiológico Universitário da Universidade de Pernambuco (PROCAPE/UPE), Recife , PE - Brasil
| | | | - Swamy Lima Palmeira
- Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde , Ministério da Saúde , Brasília , DF - Brasil
| | | | | | - Vagner Madrini Junior
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , SP - Brasil
| | | | | | - João Carlos Pinto Dias
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Rio de Janeiro , RJ - Brasil
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Moreira OC, Fernandes AG, Gomes NLDS, Dos Santos CM, Jacomasso T, Costa ADT, Nascimento LDOR, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, do Brasil PEAA, Morello LG, Marchini FK, Krieger MA, Britto C. Validation of the NAT Chagas IVD Kit for the Detection and Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi in Blood Samples of Patients with Chagas Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1236. [PMID: 37374019 DOI: 10.3390/life13061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the absence of validated biomarkers to control the cure of Chagas disease, PCR-based diagnosis is being used as the main tool for an early indication of therapeutic failure. However, since it is considered a technique of complex reproducibility, mainly due to difficulties in establishing accurate controls to guarantee the quality of the reaction, the use of PCR for Chagas disease diagnosis is restricted to specialized centers. In an effort to disseminate the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease and its applications, new diagnostic kits based on qPCR have been made available in the market in recent years. Here, we show the results of the validation of the NAT Chagas kit (Nucleic Acid Test for Chagas Disease) for the detection and quantification of T. cruzi in blood samples of patients suspected of Chagas disease infection. The kit, composed of a TaqMan duplex reaction targeting the T. cruzi satellite nuclear DNA and an exogenous internal amplification control, presented a reportable range from 104 to 0.5 parasite equivalents/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 parasite equivalents/mL of blood. In addition, the NAT Chagas kit detected T. cruzi belonging to all six discrete typing units (DTUs-TcI to TcVI), similarly to the in-house real-time PCR performed with commercial reagents, which has been selected as the best performance assay in the international consensus for the validation of qPCR for Chagas disease. In the clinical validation presented here, the kit showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to the consensus in-house real-time PCR assay. Thus, the NAT Chagas kit, which is produced entirely in Brazil under the international standards of good manufacturing practices (GMP), appears as an excellent alternative to enable the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease in public and private diagnostic centers, as well as to facilitate the monitoring of patients under etiological treatment participating in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otacilio C Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Alice Gomes Fernandes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Natalia Lins da Silva Gomes
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Carolina Messias Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Thiago Jacomasso
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | | | - Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno
- Laboratory of Clinical Research in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - Luis Gustavo Morello
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Fabricio Klerynton Marchini
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio Krieger
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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Costa-Oliveira CND, Paiva-Cavalcanti MD, Barros MDS, Nakazawa M, Melo MGND, Pessoa-E-Silva R, Torres DJL, Oliveira KKDS, Moreira LR, Morais RCSD, Goes TCD, Oliveira GMDA, Júnior WDO, Silva MMDME, Batista FP, Montenegro D, Lorena VMBD. Outbreak of Chagas disease in Brazil: Validation of a molecular diagnostic method. Exp Parasitol 2023; 247:108478. [PMID: 36731642 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), affects millions of people worldwide. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) have been used as tools to monitor parasitic levels in the bloodstream of individuals exposed to infection, thus enabling the monitoring of relapses and the effectiveness of therapy, for example. The aim of this study was to evaluate the TcSAT-IAM system, developed by our research group, on samples from patients with suspected Chagas disease infection. Initially, primer systems were developed for the detection of the nuclear DNA (SAT-DNA) from T. cruzi (TcSAT-IAM). The Cruzi system, predicted in the literature, and TcSAT-IAM were then evaluated in relation to their analytical sensitivity, specificity and efficiency. Afterwards, the applicability of the qPCR technique using both systems (separately) for the diagnosis of acute CD was evaluated in samples from 77 individuals exposed to the outbreak that occurred in Pernambuco-Brazil, relating the results obtained to those of the classical diagnostic methods recommended for this stage of the infection. TcSAT-IAM and Cruzi had a detection limit of 1 fg of target DNA (0,003 parasites). Thirty-eight cases were recorded, 28 by laboratory criteria and 10 by clinical and epidemiological criteria. Blood samples from 77 subjects were submitted to qPCR by both systems, reaching an agreement of 89.61% between them. After analyzes between systems and diagnostic criteria, the TcSAT-IAM showed sensitivity and specificity of 52.36% (CI 37.26-67.52) and 92.31% (CI 79.68-97.35), respectively, accuracy of 72.73% and moderate agreement. The TcSAT-IAM showed an accuracy of 72.58% and 75% in relation to parasitological and serological tests (IgM anti-T. cruzi), respectively. Therefore, quantitative PCR should be incorporated into the diagnosis of suspected acute cases of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Filipe Prohaska Batista
- University Hospital Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC) - Pernambuco University (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Demetrius Montenegro
- University Hospital Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC) - Pernambuco University (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Mendes FDSNS, Perez-Molina JA, Angheben A, Meymandi SK, Sosa-Estani S, Molina I. Critical analysis of Chagas disease treatment in different countries. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210034. [PMID: 35830002 PMCID: PMC9273179 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As a result of globalization and constant migratory flows, Chagas disease is now present in almost all continents. The management and treatment of the disease is often influenced by the economic and social context of the societies that host patients. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a comparative review of approaches to patients with Chagas disease in the Americas and Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jose Antonio Perez-Molina
- Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Infectious Diseases Department, National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Angheben
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital Department of Infectious - Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Sheba K Meymandi
- University of California, Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease at Olive View, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Epidemiology and Public Health Research Center, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Israel Molina
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Programa de Salut Internacional de l'Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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Britto CC. Revisiting Chagas' disease diagnostic strategies in light of different scenarios of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210444chgsb. [PMID: 35613158 PMCID: PMC9164940 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210444chgsb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Research progress of whole-cell-SELEX selection and the application of cell-targeting aptamer. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:7979-7993. [PMID: 35274201 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07317-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aptamers refer to the artificially synthesized nucleic acid sequences (DNA/RNA) that can bind to a wide range of targets with high affinity and specificity, which are generally generated from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). As a novel method of aptamers screening, whole-cell-SELEX (WC-SELEX) has gained more and more attention in many fields such as biomedicine, analytical chemistry, and molecular diagnostics due to its ability to screen multiple potential aptamers without knowing the detailed structural information of target molecules. METHODS AND RESULTS In recent years, with the deepening of research on application of aptamers, the traditional WC-SELEX cannot meet the practical application because of long experimental period, complicated operation process and low specificity, etc. Therefore, the development of more efficient methods for screening aptamer is always on the road. This paper summarizes the current research status of WC-SELEX for bacteria, parasites and animal cells, and reviews the latest advances of WC-SELEX techniques that are dependent on novel instruments, materials and microelectronics, including fluorescence-activated cell sorting-assisted SELEX, three-dimensional assisted WC-SELEX, and microfluidic chip system-assisted WC-SELEX. In addition, the application of aptamers targeting cells was discussed. CONCLUSION Taken together, this review is aimed at providing a reference for WC-SELEX selection and application of aptamer targeting cells.
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Nunes MCP, Buss LF, Silva JLP, Martins LNA, Oliveira CDL, Cardoso CS, Brito BODF, Ferreira AM, Oliveira LC, Bierrenbach AL, Fernandes F, Busch MP, Hotta VT, Martinelli LMB, Soeiro MCFA, Brentegani A, Salemi VMC, Menezes MM, Ribeiro ALP, Sabino EC. Incidence and Predictors of Progression to Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Long-Term Follow-Up of Trypanosoma cruzi-Seropositive Individuals. Circulation 2021; 144:1553-1566. [PMID: 34565171 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.055112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are few contemporary cohorts of Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive individuals, and the basic clinical epidemiology of Chagas disease is poorly understood. Herein, we report the incidence of cardiomyopathy and death associated with T. cruzi seropositivity. METHODS Participants were selected in blood banks at 2 Brazilian centers. Cases were defined as T. cruzi-seropositive blood donors. T. cruzi-seronegative controls were matched for age, sex, and period of donation. Patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy were recruited from a tertiary outpatient service. Participants underwent medical examination, blood collection, ECG, and echocardiogram at enrollment (2008-2010) and at follow-up (2018-2019). The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and development of cardiomyopathy, defined as the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction <50% or QRS complex duration ≥120 ms, or both. To handle loss to follow-up, a sensitivity analysis was performed using inverse probability weights for selection. RESULTS We enrolled 499 T. cruzi-seropositive donors (age 48±10 years, 52% male), 488 T. cruzi-seronegative donors (age 49±10 years, 49% male), and 101 patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy (age 48±8 years, 59% male). The mortality in patients with established cardiomyopathy was 80.9 deaths/1000 person-years (py) (54/101, 53%) and 15.1 deaths/1000 py (17/114, 15%) in T. cruzi-seropositive donors with cardiomyopathy at baseline. Among T. cruzi-seropositive donors without cardiomyopathy at baseline, mortality was 3.7 events/1000 py (15/385, 4%), which was no different from T. cruzi-seronegative donors with 3.6 deaths/1000 py (17/488, 3%). The incidence of cardiomyopathy in T. cruzi-seropositive donors was 13.8 (95% CI, 9.5-19.6) events/1000 py (32/262, 12%) compared with 4.6 (95% CI, 2.3-8.3) events/1000 py (11/277, 4%) in seronegative controls, with an absolute incidence difference associated with T. cruzi seropositivity of 9.2 (95% CI, 3.6-15.0) events/1000 py. T. cruzi antibody level at baseline was associated with development of cardiomyopathy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.1-1.8]). CONCLUSIONS We present a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population. The results highlight the central importance of anti-T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carmo P Nunes
- Hospital das Clínicas and Faculdade de Medicina (M.C.P.N., B.O.d.F.B., A.L.P.R.), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lewis F Buss
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical e Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitarias (L.F.B., E.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Luiz P Silva
- Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil (J.L.P.S.)
| | - Larissa Natany A Martins
- Department of Statistics, Instituto de Ciências Exatas (L.N.A.M.), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Oliveira de Figueiredo Brito
- Hospital das Clínicas and Faculdade de Medicina (M.C.P.N., B.O.d.F.B., A.L.P.R.), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ariela Mota Ferreira
- Health Science Program, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Brazil (A.M.F., M.M.M.)
| | - Lea Campos Oliveira
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM03), Hospital das Clinicas (L.C.O.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza Bierrenbach
- Research and Education Institute, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil (A.L.B.)
| | - Fabio Fernandes
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michael P Busch
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA (M.P.B.)
| | - Viviane Tiemi Hotta
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Mario Baptista Martinelli
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina F Almeida Soeiro
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana Brentegani
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vera M C Salemi
- Instituto do Coração (F.F., V.T.H., L.M.B.M., M.C.F.A.S., A.B., V.M.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcia M Menezes
- Health Science Program, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Brazil (A.M.F., M.M.M.)
| | - Antonio Luiz P Ribeiro
- Hospital das Clínicas and Faculdade de Medicina (M.C.P.N., B.O.d.F.B., A.L.P.R.), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical e Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitarias (L.F.B., E.C.S.), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
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9
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de Oliveira MT, Schmidt A, da Silva MC, Donadi EA, da Silva JS, Marin-Neto JA. Parasitic Load Correlates With Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:741347. [PMID: 34604362 PMCID: PMC8481622 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.741347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic Chagas disease (CChD), one of the infectious parasitic diseases with the greatest social and economic impact upon a large part of the American continent, has distinct clinical manifestations in humans (cardiac, digestive, or mixed clinical forms). The mechanisms underlying the development of the most common and ominous clinical form, the chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) have not been completely elucidated, despite the fact that a high intensity of parasite persistence in the myocardium is deemed responsible for an untoward evolution of the disease. The present study aimed to assess the parasite load CCC and its relation to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a definite prognostic marker in patients with CCC. Methods: Patients with CCC were clinically evaluated using 12-lead-electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray. Peripheral blood sampling (5 ml of venous blood in guanidine/EDTA) was collected from each patient for subsequent DNA extraction and the quantification of the parasite load using real-time PCR. Results: One-hundred and eighty-one patients with CCC were evaluated. A total of 140 (77.3%) had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (of ≥40%), and 41 individuals had LV dysfunction (LVEF of <40%). A wide variation in parasite load was observed with a, mean of 1.3460 ± 2.0593 (0.01 to 12.3830) par. Eq./mL. The mean ± SD of the parasite load was 0.6768 ± 0.9874 par. Eq./mL and 3.6312 ± 2.9414 par. Eq./mL in the patients with LVEF ≥ 40% and <40%, respectively. Conclusion: The blood parasite load is highly variable and seems to be directly related to the reduction of LVEF, an important prognostic factor in CCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maykon Tavares de Oliveira
- Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - André Schmidt
- Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria Cláudia da Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Antônio Donadi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - João Santana da Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Fiocruz-Bi-Institutional Translational Medicine Plataform, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - José Antônio Marin-Neto
- Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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10
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Hernández-Cuevas NA, Marín-Cervera A, Garcia-Polanco S, Martínez-Vega P, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E. Fibronectin degradation as biomarker for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and treatment monitoring in mice. Parasitology 2021; 148:1067-1073. [PMID: 34024298 PMCID: PMC11010125 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers (coming from host or parasite) to monitor Chagas disease (CD) progression as well as the therapeutic response in chronic CD are critically needed, since seronegativization, which may be considered the best indicator of therapeutic cure, takes several years to be observed in adults. Several molecules have been suggested as biomarkers for CD, however, they have to be validated. Taking advantage of mouse models of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, we investigated changes in the degradation profile of fibronectin in plasma. The degradation profile of fibronectin was different in the acute phase compared to the chronic phase of the infection. Fibronectin fragments of approximately 150, 100, 40 and 30 kDa were identified. Furthermore, those degradation profiles correlated with acute parasitaemia as well as with cardiac parasite burden and tissue damage during the infection. The usefulness of fibronectin degradation as a biomarker for therapeutic response following drug treatment and immunotherapeutic vaccination also was evaluated and a decreased fibronectin degradation profile was observed upon benznidazole or a vaccine candidate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Adriana Hernández-Cuevas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Andrea Marín-Cervera
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Shineily Garcia-Polanco
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Pedro Martínez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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11
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Jurado Medina L, Chassaing E, Ballering G, Gonzalez N, Marqué L, Liehl P, Pottel H, de Boer J, Chatelain E, Zrein M, Altcheh J. Prediction of parasitological cure in children infected with Trypanosoma cruzi using a novel multiplex serological approach: an observational, retrospective cohort study. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 21:1141-1150. [PMID: 33836157 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30729-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessment of therapeutic response with standard serological diagnostic assays in patients with chronic Chagas disease is a major challenge due to the long persistence of parasite-specific antibodies. The current consensus for parasitological cure is to monitor conversion from positive to negative Trypanosoma cruzi serology (seroreversion). However, because of robust humoral immune response, seroreversion by standard serological tests can take years to decades. Developing novel tests of parasitological cure or surrogates is thus a priority in the Chagas disease field. We aimed to evaluate the MultiCruzi assay as a predictive tool for parasitological cure in a cohort of treated infants and children with acute and chronic Chagas disease enrolled in a long-term retrospective longitudinal study with clinical, serological, and parasitological follow-up, and to explore whether MultiCruzi could predict parasitological cure more quickly than the current reference method. METHODS Patients from two retrospective paediatric Chagas disease cohort studies with clinical, serological, and parasitological follow-up, diagnosed and treated at the parasitology service, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez (Buenos Aires, Argentina) were included in this retrospective cohort study. Serum samples were collected every 6 months to 12 months between Oct 22, 1990, and June 3, 2019, for cohort 1 and 1 month after birth for cohort 2 and then every 3 months for a year between July 23, 2012, and April 19, 2016. We evaluated serological follow-up with the Chagatest ELISA (Wiener Lab, Rosario, Argentina) and used this as a clinical reference method for the evaluation of seroreversion. We compared Chagatest ELISA results with results of MultiCruzi (InfYnity Biomarkers, Lyon, France), a novel antibody profiling multiplex assay, investigating seroreversion events with both of the assays and prediction of seroreversion with MultiCruzi using an interpretation formula. FINDINGS Combining experimental data from discrete analysis of 15 T cruzi antigens efficiently predicted seroreversion at an early stage, which was later confirmed by conventional T cruzi serology. In cohort 1 (n=69), which included children of three different age groups, we observed differences 2 years after therapy. In the 27 individuals from cohort 1 who were treated within the first 12 months of age, MultiCruzi predicted early seroreversion in 21 (78%) patients whereas nine (33%) patients showed seroreversion with Chagatest ELISA (seroreversion difference 0·44, 95% CI 0·26-0·63; p=0·0005). In the 12 patients from cohort 1 treated between 1 year and 2 years of age, MultiCruzi predicted early seroreversion in six (50%) patients, whereas only one (8%) patient was confirmed to be seronegative with Chagatest ELISA (seroreversion difference 0·42, 95% CI 0·14-0·70; p=0·0253). In the 30 patients from cohort 1 who were treated between 2 years and 19 years of age, MultiCruzi predicted early seroreversion in five (6%) patients, whereas no patients were found to be seronegative with Chagatest ELISA (seroreversion difference 0·17, 0·03-0·30; p=0·0253). In cohort 2 (n=27), which included only children younger than 1 year of age and had a shorter follow up (between 5 months and 32 months), the proportion of reported events was significantly different 180 days after treatment for the T cruzi-positive group (early seroreversion predicted in nine [90%] of ten patients with MultiCruzi and confirmed seroreversion in four [40%] of ten patients with Chagatest ELISA; seroreversion difference 0·50, 95% CI 0·19-0·81; p=0·0253) and for the T cruzi-negative group 90 days (early seroreversion predicted in five [29%] of 17 patients with MultiCruzi and confirmed seroreversion in one [6%] of 17 patients with Chagatest ELISA; seroreversion difference 0·24, 0·03-0·44; p=0·0455) and 180 days (early seroreversion predicted in 17 [100%] of 17 patients with MultiCruzi and confirmed seroreversion only in seven [41%] of 17 patients with Chagatest ELISA; seroreversion difference 0·59, 0·35-0·82; p=0·0016) after treatment. INTERPRETATION The MultiCruzi assay can be used as a predictive monitoring tool to assess parasitological cure in children. This approach might be a solution to forecast forthcoming seroreversion in treated adults infected with T cruzi, but this requires further investigation. FUNDING Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative. TRANSLATIONS For the Spanish, Portuguese and French translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jurado Medina
- Parasitology Service, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez" and Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigacion en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP)-CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Griselda Ballering
- Parasitology Service, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez" and Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigacion en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP)-CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolas Gonzalez
- Parasitology Service, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez" and Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigacion en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP)-CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Hans Pottel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven (KULAK), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Jasper de Boer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven (KULAK), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Jaime Altcheh
- Parasitology Service, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez" and Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigacion en Patologias Pediatricas (IMIPP)-CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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12
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Meyers AC, Edwards EE, Sanders JP, Saunders AB, Hamer SA. Fatal Chagas myocarditis in government working dogs in the southern United States: Cross-reactivity and differential diagnoses in five cases across six months. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2021; 24:100545. [PMID: 34024363 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We describe the diagnostics surrounding the deaths of five working dogs over six-months to provide an enhanced clinical and diagnostic understanding of canine Chagas disease. Cases were five dogs with antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi. Medical records were reviewed for diagnostic history. Testing was performed from samples collected before or immediately after death, including measurement of cardiac troponin I, histology, PCR and serology for Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. Four dogs had a 2 to 7-year history of T. cruzi antibodies, while one positive dog had an unknown duration of exposure. Age at death ranged from 2 to 11 years and four dogs were actively working. The cardiac troponin I was elevated in all four dogs for which it was measured, although postmortem reference ranges are not established. Histopathologic diagnoses included mild to severe, chronic, lymphoplasmacytic to histiocytic myocarditis with variable fibrosis. Notably, only one dog had T. cruzi amastigotes observed in the heart histologically. T. cruzi DNA was detected in three other hearts. Although all five dogs tested antibody-positive for T. cruzi using three independent tests, all were also indirect fluorescent antibody-positive for Leishmania spp., interpreted as cross-reaction. Chagas disease in dogs is a diagnostic challenge owing to cross-reactions and variable clinical, histologic and molecular presentations. The use and interpretation of multiple diagnostic strategies is useful in diagnosis. This study demonstrates techniques used to diagnose and characterize Chagas disease in an at-risk dog population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C Meyers
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Bioscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Erin E Edwards
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - John P Sanders
- Office of Workforce Health and Safety, Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Ashley B Saunders
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Bioscience, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Sulleiro E, Silgado A, Serre-Delcor N, Salvador F, Tavares de Oliveira M, Moure Z, Sao-Aviles A, Oliveira I, Treviño B, Goterris L, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Pou D, Molina I, Pumarola T. Usefulness of real-time PCR during follow-up of patients treated with Benznidazole for chronic Chagas disease: Experience in two referral centers in Barcelona. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008067. [PMID: 32069287 PMCID: PMC7048293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antitrypanosomal treatment with Benznidazole (BZ) or Nifurtimox may be recommended for patients with chronic Chagas disease (CD) to reduce the onset or progression of symptoms. However, such treatment has limited efficacy and high level of toxic effects. In addition, the current cure biomarker (serology conversion) precludes any treatment assessment unless a prolonged follow-up is arranged. PCR is thus the most useful, alternative surrogate marker for evaluating responses to treatment. The aim of this study is to describe the usefulness of real-time PCR in monitoring BZ treatment within a large cohort of chronic CD cases in Barcelona. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A total of 370 chronic CD patients were monitored with real-time PCR post-BZ treatment. The median follow-up was 4 years (IQR 2.2-5.3y), with a median of 3 clinical visits (IQR 2-4). Only 8 patients (2.2%) presented with at least one incident of positive real-time PCR after treatment and were therefore considered as treatment failure. Four of those failure patients had completed full course treatment, whereas the remaining cases had defaulted with a statistical difference between both groups (p = 0.02). Half of the failure patients had undergone less than 4 years of follow-up monitoring all presented with parasitemia before treatment. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE BZ treatment failure was highly infrequent in our cohort. BZ discontinuation was a risk factor for positive real-time PCR results during clinical follow-up. Regular testing with real-time PCR during follow-up allows for early detection of treatment failure in patients with chronic CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Sulleiro
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aroa Silgado
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Serre-Delcor
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d´Hebron-Drassanes, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maykon Tavares de Oliveira
- Departamento de Clínica médica, Unidade de Cardiologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Zaira Moure
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Augusto Sao-Aviles
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Oliveira
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d´Hebron-Drassanes, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Treviño
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d´Hebron-Drassanes, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lidia Goterris
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Pou
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d´Hebron-Drassanes, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomàs Pumarola
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Sulleiro E, Muñoz-Calderon AQ, Schijman AG. Role of nucleic acid amplification assays in monitoring treatment response in chagas disease: Usefulness in clinical trials. Acta Trop 2019; 199:105120. [PMID: 31376368 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease has become a global health problem due to migration of infected people out of Latin America to non-endemic countries. For more than 40 years, only the nitroimidazole compounds Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, have been used for specific treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection with disappointing results, specially due to the long duration of treatment and adverse events in the chronic phase. In the last years, ergosterol inhibitors have been also proposed for specific treatment. Different randomized clinical trials were performed for evaluating their treatment efficacy and safety. One of the greatest concerns in clinical trials is to provide an early surrogate biomarker of response to trypanocidal chemotherapy. Serological response is slow and the classical parasitological tests have poor sensitivity and are time-consuming. Nowadays, PCR is the most helpful tool for assessing treatment response in a short period of time. Different protocols of PCR have been developed, being quantitative real time PCR based on amplification of repetitive satellite or minicircle DNA sequences plus an internal amplification standard, the mostly employed strategies in clinical trials. Standardized protocols and the use of an external quality assessment ensure adequate technical procedures and reliable data. Clinical trials have shown a significant reduction in parasite loads, reaching undetectable DNA levels in bloodstream after specific treatment, however events of treatment failure have also been reported. Treatment failure could be due to inadequate penetrance of the drugs into the affected tissues, to the presence of primary or secondary drug resistance of the infecting strains as well as to the existence of dormant parasite variants reluctant to drug action. The early diagnosis of drug resistance would improve clinical management of Chagas disease patients, allowing dictating alternative therapies with a combination of existing drugs or new anti-T. cruzi agents. The aim of this review was to describe the usefulness of detecting T.cruzi DNA by means of real time PCR assays, as surrogate biomarker in clinical trials for evaluating new drugs for CD or new regimens of available drugs and the possibility to detect treatment failure.
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15
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Vásquez Velásquez C, Russomando G, Espínola EE, Sanchez Z, Mochizuki K, Roca Y, Revollo J, Guzman A, Quiroga B, Rios Morgan S, Vargas Ortiz R, Zambrana Ortega A, Espinoza E, Nishizawa JE, Kamel MG, Kikuchi M, Mizukami S, Na-Bangchang K, Tien Huy N, Hirayama K. IL-17A, a possible biomarker for the evaluation of treatment response in Trypanosoma cruzi infected children: A 12-months follow-up study in Bolivia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007715. [PMID: 31553732 PMCID: PMC6760767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The National Program for Chagas disease was implemented in Bolivia in 2006, and it greatly decreased the number of infections through vector control. Subsequently, a treatment regimen of benznidazole (BNZ) was started in seropositive school-age children living in certified vector control areas. Methods and findings We conducted a 12-month follow-up study and seven blood samples were taken during and after the treatment. Serology, conventional diagnostic PCR (cPCR) and quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR) were performed. Plasma Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines levels were also determined. Approximately 73 of 103 seropositive children complied with BNZ, with three interruptions due to side effects. To evaluate each individual’s treatment efficacy, the cPCR and qPCR values during the final 6 months of the follow-up period were observed. Among 57 children who completed follow-up, 6 individuals (11%) showed both cPCR(+) and qPCR(+) (non reactive), 24 (42%) cPCR(-) but qPCR(+) (ambiguous) and 27 (47%) cPCR(-) and qPCR(-) (reactive). Within 14 Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, IL-17A showed significantly higher levels in seropositive children before the treatment compared to age-matched seronegative children and significantly decreased to the normal level one-year after. Moreover, throughout the follow-up study, IL-17A levels were positively co-related to parasite counts detected by qPCR. At the 12 months’ time point, IL-17A levels of non-reactive subjects were significantly higher than either those of reactive or ambiguous subjects suggesting that IL-17A might be useful to determine the reactivity to BNZ treatment. Conclusions Plasma levels of IL-17A might be a bio-marker for detecting persistent infection of T. cruzi and its chronic inflammation. Chagas is a zoonosis endemic in 21 Latin American countries caused by T. cruzi. Results of common Benznidazole (BNZ) treatment vary by infection phase, treatment period, and dosage. In Bolivia, the national Chagas program controls vector distribution in different regions of the country. The program began BNZ treatment in school-age children from infestation-free endemic areas. Lack of information regarding follow-up and efficacy in children with recent chronic Chagas makes treatment failure difficult to detect in endemic areas. The present study aimed to estimate parasite DNA in blood through quantitative real-time and conventional PCR (qPCR, cPCR), and observe Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profiling during a 12-month follow-up in Bolivia school children. Results showed persistence of low, substantial amounts of T. cruzi DNA, and significantly higher IL-17A levels in the seropositive group before treatment than the seronegative group, which decreased to seronegative levels one year later. Of 57 treated, 6 showed cPCR positive results 6 months after treatment and were diagnosed as definitely non-reactive (10.5%). The six non-reactive individuals showed significantly higher levels of IL-17A at 12 months than residual reactive (cPCR negative, qPCR negative) and ambiguously reactive (cPCR negative, qPCR positive) groups, indicating that IL-17A might be a biomarker for non-reactive to BNZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Vásquez Velásquez
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Graciela Russomando
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Emilio E. Espínola
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Zunilda Sanchez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Kota Mochizuki
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yelin Roca
- Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Jimmy Revollo
- Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Angelica Guzman
- Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Benjamín Quiroga
- Programa Departamental de Control de Chagas del Ministerio de Salud, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Susana Rios Morgan
- Programa Departamental de Control de Chagas del Ministerio de Salud, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - Roberto Vargas Ortiz
- Programa Departamental de Control de Chagas del Ministerio de Salud, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | | | - Eida Espinoza
- Hospital Municipal Warnes "Nuestra Señora del Rosario", Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | | | | | - Mihoko Kikuchi
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shusaku Mizukami
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kesara Na-Bangchang
- Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Nguyen Tien Huy
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Clinical Product Development, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Hirayama
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Hagström L, Marques ALP, Nitz N, Hecht MM. The use of qPCR in human Chagas disease: a systematic review. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:875-894. [DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1659729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Hagström
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ana Luisa Pereira Marques
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Nadjar Nitz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mariana Machado Hecht
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
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Rampazzo RC, Graziani AC, Leite KK, Surdi JA, Biondo CA, Costa ML, Jacomasso T, Cereda M, De Fazio M, Bianchessi MA, Moreira OC, Britto C, Costa JD, Góes VM, da Silva AJ, Krieger MA, Costa AD. Proof of Concept for a Portable Platform for Molecular Diagnosis of Tropical Diseases. J Mol Diagn 2019; 21:839-851. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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Moscatelli G, Moroni S, García Bournissen F, González N, Ballering G, Schijman A, Corral R, Bisio M, Freilij H, Altcheh J. Longitudinal follow up of serological response in children treated for Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007668. [PMID: 31465522 PMCID: PMC6715178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evaluation of therapeutic response in chronic Chagas disease is a major challenge, due to prolonged persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific antibodies, lack of sensitivity of parasitological tests, and need for long-term follow-up to observe negative seroconversion of conventional serological tests (CS). The objective of this study was to evaluate F2/3-ELISA serology, a promising early biomarker of therapeutic response, and T.cruzi Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for T. cruzi Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), for neonatal diagnosis and evaluation of parasitemia after treatment. Methods Prospective cohort study, with three-year clinical, serological and parasitological follow-up of pediatric Chagas disease patients treated with benznidazole. Serology was evaluated by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and F2/3-ELISA; Parasitemia by microhematocrit (MH) and PCR. Results A cohort of 107 pediatric patients treated with benznidazole was enrolled in the study. ELISA and IHA were initially reactive in 100% of patients, F2/3-ELISA serology was reactive in 80% (86/107) and 91% (97/107) had detectable parasitemia. Seventy-six (71%) patients completed at least 36 months of serological follow up after treatment. Although a similar decreasing linear trend was observed for all serological tests, F2/3-ELISA presented earlier, age dependent, negative seroconversion compared to CS. All patients reaching undetectable CS titers had previously seroreverted by F2/3-ELISA. All patients with persistently decreasing antibody titers had negative PCRs throughout the follow up period. No new cardiological lesions were observed during the 3 years follow-up period. Conclusions The data reported here, using CS, F2/3 ELISA and PCR provide support for the efficacy of benznidazole in congenital Chagas diseases. These results provide support for scaling up of screening, diagnosis and access to benznidazole treatment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov 0028/04 in the Research Council, Secretary of Health Buenos Aires city Goberment. Evaluation of therapeutic response in chronic Chagas disease is a major challenge, particularly in the early post-treatment phase, due to prolonged persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific antibodies and lack of sensitivity of available parasitological tests. The main limitation in evaluating Chagas disease treatment response stems from the need for long-term follow-up to observe negative seroconversion of conventional serological tests. New biomarkers of cure are needed. We evaluated F2/3-ELISA, a promising early serological marker of therapeutic response, and T.cruzi PCR for T.cruzi DNA, for neonatal diagnosis and evaluation of parasitemia after treatment. F2/3-ELISA and PCR proved to be excellent early markers of treatment response that correlate with ELISA and IHA but can identify treatment response or failure at much earlier timepoints. This information can help design future paediatric clinical trials in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Moscatelli
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Research of Pediatric Diseases- CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
| | - Samanta Moroni
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Research of Pediatric Diseases- CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo García Bournissen
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Research of Pediatric Diseases- CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolás González
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Griselda Ballering
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Schijman
- Molecular Biology Laboratory of Chagas disease, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Corral
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Margarita Bisio
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Héctor Freilij
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Parasitology service Ricardo Gutiérrez Children´s Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Research of Pediatric Diseases- CONICET-GCBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Apolipoprotein A1 and Fibronectin Fragments as Markers of Cure for the Chagas Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 30868534 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), endemic from Latin America, affects more than 8 million people, and the disease keeps spreading around the world due to population migrations. The treatment options for CD are currently limited to two drugs, benznidazole (BZ) and nifurtimox (Nfx), which are often unsatisfactory in chronically infected patients. To date, the only accepted marker of the cure is seroconversion (the disappearance of Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in the patient's serum), which can take decades to occur, if ever. The lack of posttreatment test-of-cure often prevents appropriate patient counseling and limits the development of new drugs. Without a doubt, reliable biomarkers for parasitological cure are urgently needed. Several pieces of evidence suggest that apolipoprotein A1 and fibronectin fragments are produced during the infection as part of the process of T. cruzi cell invasion and can thus be used as its surrogate biomarkers. In this chapter, we present a standardized method to evaluate these fragments in serum using mass spectrometry and immunoblotting in CD patients for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment assessment purposes.
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Mayta H, Romero YK, Pando A, Verastegui M, Tinajeros F, Bozo R, Henderson-Frost J, Colanzi R, Flores J, Lerner R, Bern C, Gilman RH. Improved DNA extraction technique from clot for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007024. [PMID: 30633743 PMCID: PMC6329489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi genetic material in clinical samples is considered an important diagnostic tool for Chagas disease. We have previously demonstrated that PCR using clot samples yields greater sensitivity than either buffy coat or whole blood samples. However, phenol-chloroform DNA extraction from clot samples is difficult and toxic. The objective of the present study was to improve and develop a more sensitive method to recover parasite DNA from clot samples for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. Methodology/Principal findings A total of 265 match pair samples of whole blood–guanidine (GEB) and clot samples were analyzed; 150 were from Chagas seropositive subjects. DNA was extracted from both whole blood-guanidine samples, using a previously standardized methodology, and from clot samples, using a newly developed methodology based on a combination of the FastPrep technique and the standard method for GEB extraction. A qPCR targeting the nuclear satellite sequences was used to compare the sample source and the extraction method. Of the 150 samples from Chagas positive individuals by serology, 47 samples tested positive by qPCR with DNA extracted by both GEB and clot, but an additional 13 samples tested positive only in DNA extracted from clot. No serology-negative samples resulted positive when tested by qPCR. Conclusions The new methodology for DNA extraction from clot samples improves the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease. Detection of nucleic acid has become an important tool for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. Whole blood samples are usually the source of DNA and qPCR the preferred technique to demonstrate the presence of T. cruzi DNA. Although DNA extracted from clot samples has shown higher sensitivity than from whole blood, DNA extraction is performed using phenol-chloroform, which has biohazard issues. We theorize that a clot traps parasites, making it a better source of DNA for Chagas diagnosis using PCR. The present study describes a new DNA extraction methodology from clot samples which avoids the use of phenol-chloroform. The new methodology was compared to the internationally standardized diagnostic method, which is based on extraction of DNA from whole blood preserved with guanidine EDTA and a commercial kit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Mayta
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.,A.B Prisma, Lima, Perú
| | - Yomara K Romero
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Alejandra Pando
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Manuela Verastegui
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Ricardo Bozo
- Hospital Municipal Camiri, Camiri, Plurinational State of Bolivia
| | | | - Rony Colanzi
- Hospital Universitario Japones, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia
| | - Jorge Flores
- Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia
| | - Richard Lerner
- Pan American Zoonotic Research and Prevention, Framingham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caryn Bern
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Robert H Gilman
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, School of Science and Philosophy, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.,Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.,A.B Prisma, Lima, Perú
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D’Ávila DA, Galvão LMC, Sousa GR, Britto C, Moreira OC, Chiari E. Monitoring the parasite load in chronic Chagas disease patients: comparison between blood culture and quantitative real time PCR. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208133. [PMID: 30496249 PMCID: PMC6264508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the improvements in diagnostic tools for detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in human blood samples, the isolation of parasite from bloodstream in the chronic phase of Chagas disease is challenging. Thus, there is an increasing interest in the development of strategies that allow an accurate monitoring of the parasite load in bloodstream of Chagas disease patients. Given that, the comparison of a classical diagnostic method such as blood culture and multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was few explored so far. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the detection and quantification of T. cruzi load in the circulating blood of patients with chronic Chagas disease, using blood culture and qPCR techniques. METHODS⁄PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) based on TaqMan technology was evaluated in 135 blood samples from 91 patients with chronic Chagas disease presenting indeterminate (asymptomatic, n = 23) and cardiac (chronic cardiomyopathy, n = 68) forms, in comparison with the classical blood culture (BC) technique. The total positivity of qPCR and BC was 58.5% and 49.6%, respectively. The median parasite load of all positive patients was 1.18 [0.39-4.23] par. eq.⁄mL, ranging from 0.01 to 116.10 par. eq.⁄mL. We did not find significant differences between T. cruzi load with age and distinct clinical manifestations of patients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our data suggest that qPCR can be an auxiliary tool for studies that require T. cruzi isolation from the bloodstream of patients with chronic Chagas disease, after the establishment of a parasite load cut-off that guarantees a relative success rate of parasite isolation using BC technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Alchaar D’Ávila
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lúcia Maria C. Galvão
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Giovane R. Sousa
- Section on Immunobiology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, RJ, Brazil
| | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, RJ, Brazil
| | - Egler Chiari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Perez CJ, Thompson RCA, Keatley SK, Walsh AL, Lymbery AJ. The effect of reinfection and mixed Trypanosoma cruzi infections on disease progression in mice. Acta Trop 2018; 178:107-114. [PMID: 29113781 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The progression of Chagas disease (CD) varies significantly from host to host and is affected by multiple factors. In particular, mixed strain infections and reinfections have the potential to exacerbate disease progression subsequently affecting clinical management of patients with CD. Consequently, an associated reduction in therapeutic intervention and poor prognosis may occur due to this exacerbated disease state. This study investigated the effects of mixed strain infections and reinfection with Trypanosoma cruzi in mice, using two isolates from different discrete typing units, TcI (C8 clone 1) and TcIV (10R26). There were no significant differences in mortality rate, body weight or body condition among mice infected with either C8 clone 1, 10R26, or a mixture of both isolates. However, the parasite was found in a significantly greater number of host organs in mice infected with a mixture of isolates, and the histopathological response to infection was significantly greater in mice infected with C8 clone 1 alone, and C8 clone 1+10R26 mixed infections than in mice infected with 10R26 alone. To investigate the effects of reinfection, mice received either a double exposure to C8 clone 1; a double exposure to 10R26; exposure to C8 clone 1 followed by 10R26; or exposure to 10R26 followed by C8 clone 1. Compared to single infection groups, mortality was significantly increased, while survival time, body weight and body condition were all significantly decreased across all reinfection groups, with no significant differences among these groups. The mortality rate over all reinfection groups was 63.6%, compared to 0% in single infection groups, however there was no evidence of a greater histopathological response to infection. These results suggest firstly, that the C8 clone 1 isolate is more virulent than the 10R26 isolate, and secondly, that a more disseminated infection may occur with a mixture of isolates than with single isolates, although there is no evidence that mixed infections have a greater pathological effect. By contrast, reinfections do have major effects on host survivability and thus disease outcome. This confirms previous research demonstrating spontaneous deaths following reinfection, a phenomenon that to our knowledge has only been reported once before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Perez
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
| | - Sarah K Keatley
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
| | - Audra L Walsh
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia; Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit, Murdoch University,South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
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Zrein M, Granjon E, Gueyffier L, Caillaudeau J, Liehl P, Pottel H, Cardoso CS, Oliveira CDL, de Oliveira LC, Lee TH, Ferreira AM, Ribeiro ALP, Busch MP, Sabino EC. A novel antibody surrogate biomarker to monitor parasite persistence in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006226. [PMID: 29425201 PMCID: PMC5823467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, the causative agent of Chagas disease, infects about six million individuals in more than 20 countries. Monitoring parasite persistence in infected individuals is of utmost importance to develop and evaluate treatments to control the disease. Routine screening for infected human individuals is achieved by serological assays; PCR testing to monitor spontaneous or therapy-induced parasitological cure has limitations due to the low and fluctuating parasitic load in circulating blood. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a newly developed antibody profiling assay as an indirect method to assess parasite persistence based on waning of antibodies following spontaneous or therapy-induced clearance of the infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We designed a multiplex serology assay, an array of fifteen optimized T. cruzi antigens, to evaluate antibody diversity in 1654 serum samples from chronic Chagas patients. One specific antibody response (antibody 3, Ab3) showed a strong correlation with T. cruzi parasite persistence as determined by T. cruzi PCR positive results. High and sustained Ab3 signal was strongly associated with PCR positivity in untreated patients, whereas significant decline in Ab3 signals was observed in BZN-treated patients who cleared parasitemia based on blood PCR results. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Ab3 is a new surrogate biomarker that strongly correlates with parasite persistence in chronic and benznidazole-treated Chagas patients. We hypothesize that Ab3 is induced and maintained by incessant stimulation of the immune system by tissue-based and shed parasites that are not consistently detectable by blood based PCR techniques. Hence, a simple immunoassay measurement of Ab3 could be beneficial for monitoring the infectious status of seropositive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maan Zrein
- R&D, INFYNITY BIOMARKERS SAS, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Hans Pottel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven (KULAK), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Clareci Silva Cardoso
- Federal University of São João del-Rey, Research Group in Epidemiology and New Technologies in Health-campus CCO, São João del-Rei, Brazil
| | - Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira
- Federal University of São João del-Rey, Research Group in Epidemiology and New Technologies in Health-campus CCO, São João del-Rei, Brazil
| | - Lea Campos de Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical e Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP) da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Investigação Médica (LIM03), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paolo, Brazil
| | - Tzong-Hae Lee
- Blood Systems Research Institute and University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ariela Mota Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro
- Hospital das Clínicas and School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Michael P. Busch
- Blood Systems Research Institute and University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical e Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP) da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Volpato FCZ, Sousa GR, D'Ávila DA, Galvão LMDC, Chiari E. Combined parasitological and molecular-based diagnostic tools improve the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in single peripheral blood samples from patients with Chagas disease. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2017; 50:506-515. [PMID: 28954072 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0046-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In order to detect Trypanosoma cruzi and determine the genetic profiles of the parasite during the chronic phase of Chagas disease (ChD), parasitological and molecular diagnostic methods were used to assess the blood of 91 patients without specific prior treatment. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 68 patients with cardiac ChD and 23 patients with an indeterminate form of ChD, followed by evaluation using blood culture and polymerase chain reaction. T . cruzi isolates were genotyped using three different genetic markers. RESULTS: Blood culture was positive in 54.9% of all patients, among which 60.3% had the cardiac form of ChD, and 39.1% the indeterminate form of ChD. There were no significant differences in blood culture positivity among patients with cardiac and indeterminate forms. Additionally, patient age and clinical forms did not influence blood culture results. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive in 98.9% of patients, although comparisons between blood culture and PCR results showed that the two techniques did not agree. Forty-two T . cruzi stocks were isolated, and TcII was detected in 95.2% of isolates. Additionally, one isolate corresponded to TcIII or TcIV, and another corresponded to TcV or TcVI. CONCLUSIONS Blood culture and PCR were both effective for identifying T. cruzi using a single blood sample, and their association did not improve parasite detection. However, we were not able to establish an association between the clinical form of ChD and the genetic profile of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Caroline Zempulski Volpato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Giovane Rodrigo Sousa
- Section on Immunobiology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Daniella Alchaar D'Ávila
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Lúcia Maria da Cunha Galvão
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Egler Chiari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Parasitologia, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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Araujo PF, Almeida AB, Pimentel CF, Silva AR, Sousa A, Valente SA, Valente VC, Britto MM, Rosa AC, Alves RM, Hagström L, Teixeira AR. Sexual transmission of American trypanosomiasis in humans: a new potential pandemic route for Chagas parasites. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 112:437-446. [PMID: 28591404 PMCID: PMC5446233 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Trypanosoma cruzi infection endemic in Latin America has now spread to several countries across four continents; this endemic involves triatomine vector-free protists. We hypothesised that the sexual transmission of T. cruzi contributes to the ongoing spread of Chagas disease. OBJECTIVES A short-term longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate this hypothesis. METHODS The study population comprised 109 subjects from four families, among whom 21 had been diagnosed with acute Chagas disease by direct parasitological analysis. Blood mononuclear cells and serum samples were obtained from each study subject once per year for three consecutive years. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence serological examinations were used to detect specific T. cruzi antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction of T. cruzi DNA revealed 188-nucleotide bands, which hybridised to a specific radiolabelled probe and were confirmed by cloning and sequencing. RESULTS Three independent assessments at different time points revealed T. cruzi nuclear DNA footprints in 76% (83/109) of the study population with active infection. In contrast, the ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence assays detected the T. cruzi antibody in 28.4% (31/109) of the study samples. Moreover, the semen from 82.6% (19/23) of subjects people revealed harboured the 188- bp base pair T. cruzi footprint. Interestingly, the ejaculates of nuclear DNA-positive Chagas patient transmitted the T. cruzi upon peritoneal injection or infusion in the vagina of mice, and amastigotes were detected in the skeletal muscle, myocardium, vas deferens, and uterine tube. MAIN CONCLUSIONS T. cruzi infections can be transmitted from females or males to naïve mates through intercourse, and progeny showed discrepancies between the ratios of nuclear DNA footprints and specific antibody that can be explained by the tolerance attained during early embryo growth. Additional studies are needed to develop drugs to eradicate the infections. Additionally, the importance of a vigorous education, information, and communication program to prevent sexually transmitted Chagas disease in humans cannot be underemphasised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perla F Araujo
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Adriana B Almeida
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Carlos F Pimentel
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Adriano R Silva
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Alessandro Sousa
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | | | | | - Manuela M Britto
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Ana C Rosa
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Rozeneide M Alves
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Luciana Hagström
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - Antonio Rl Teixeira
- Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Brasília, DF, Brasil
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Santivañez-Veliz M, Moreno-Viguri E, Pérez-Silanes S, Varela J, Cerecetto H, González M, Lizarraga E. Development, validation and application of a GC-MS method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of neutral lipid species in Trypanosoma cruzi. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2017; 1061-1062:225-232. [PMID: 28750236 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The development and validation of an analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of five neutral lipids in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes by GC-MS is presented in this study. The validated method meets all validation parameters for all components and the chromatographic conditions have been optimized during its development. This analytical method has demonstrated good selectivity, accuracy, within-day precision, recovery and linearity in each of the established ranges. In addition, detection and quantification limits for squalene, cholesterol, ergosterol and lanosterol have been improved and it is worth highlighting the fact that this is the first time that squalene-2,3-epoxide validation data have been reported. The new validated method has been applied to epimastigotes treated with compounds with in vitro anti-T.cruzi activity. This new methodology is straightforward and constitutes a tool for screening possible sterol biosynthesis pathway inhibitors in Trypanosoma cruzi, one of the most studied targets in Chagas disease treatment. Therefore, it is an interesting and useful contribution to medicinal chemistry research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mery Santivañez-Veliz
- Universidad de Navarra, Instituto de Salud Tropical, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Química orgánica y Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elsa Moreno-Viguri
- Universidad de Navarra, Instituto de Salud Tropical, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Química orgánica y Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Universidad de Navarra, Instituto de Salud Tropical, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Química orgánica y Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Varela
- Grupo de Química Medicinal-Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Medicinal-Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay
| | - Mercedes González
- Grupo de Química Medicinal-Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay
| | - Elena Lizarraga
- Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Química orgánica y Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain.
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Benznidazole and Posaconazole in Eliminating Parasites in Asymptomatic T. Cruzi Carriers: The STOP-CHAGAS Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 69:939-947. [PMID: 28231946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benznidazole is recommended for treatment of Chagas infection. Effects of combination therapy with benznidazole and posaconazole have not been tested in Trypanosoma cruzi carriers. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether posaconazole alone or combined with benznidazole were superior to benznidazole monotherapy in eliminating T. cruzi parasites measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic Chagas carriers. METHODS A prospective, multicenter randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in 120 subjects from Latin America and Spain who were randomized to 4 groups: posaconazole 400 mg twice a day (b.i.d.); benznidazole 200 mg + placebo b.i.d.; benznidazole 200 mg b.i.d. + posaconazole 400 mg b.i.d.; or placebo 10 mg b.i.d. T. cruzi deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by RT-PCR at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 360 days. The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of subjects with persistent negative RT-PCR by day 180; the secondary outcome was negative RT-PCR at 360 days. RESULTS Only 13.3% of those receiving posaconazole and 10% receiving placebo achieved the primary outcome, compared with 80% receiving benznidazole + posaconazole and 86.7% receiving benznidazole monotherapy (p < 0.0001 vs. posaconazole/placebo). Posaconazole monotherapy or posaconazole combined with benznidazole achieved high RT-PCR conversion rates during treatment (30 days; 93.3% and 88.9% and 60 days; 90%, and 92.3%) that were similar to benznidazole (89.7% and 89.3%); all were superior to placebo or posaconazole (10% and 16.7%, p < 0.0001). This was not observed at 360 days; benznidazole + posaconazole and benznidazole monotherapy (both 96%) versus placebo (17%) and posaconazole (16%, p < 0.0001). Serious adverse events were rare (6 patients) and were observed in the benznidazole-treated patients. Permanent discontinuation was reported in 19 patients (31.7%) receiving either benznidazole monotherapy or combined with posaconazole. CONCLUSIONS Posaconazole demonstrated trypanostatic activity during treatment, but it is ineffective long-term in asymptomatic T. cruzi carriers. Benznidazole monotherapy is superior to posaconazole, with high RT-PCR conversion rates sustained at 1 year. Side effects lead to therapy discontinuation in 32%. No advantages were observed with combined therapy versus benznidazole monotherapy. (A Study of the Use of Oral Posaconazole [POS] in the Treatment of Asymptomatic Chronic Chagas Disease [P05267] [STOP CHAGAS]: NCT01377480).
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Navarrete-Sandoval RH, Servín-Rojas M. Bug Smash, Bug Splash: A Case Report of an Unusual Transmission of American Trypanosomiasis with a Brief Review of the Literature. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CASE REPORTS 2016; 17:993-996. [PMID: 28031550 PMCID: PMC5215221 DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.900539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is a chronic parasitosis transmitted by the inoculation of infected triatomine feces into wounds or conjunctival sac, transfusion, congenitally, organ transplantation, and ingestion of contaminated food. The disease is classified into an acute and chronic phase; the latter is a life-long infection that can be asymptomatic or progress to cardiac or digestive complications. CASE REPORT We report a case of acute-phase Chagas disease, transmitted by the splash of gut content from an infected triatomine into the conjunctival mucosa. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of Chagas disease is made by the direct visualization of the parasite in blood smears during the acute phase of the disease; during the chronic phase of the disease the diagnosis is made by the detection of IgG antibodies. Parasitological cure can be achieved in up to 80% of the cases in acute phase of the disease, in contrast with less than 30% during the chronic phase.
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Dias JCP, Ramos Jr. AN, Gontijo ED, Luquetti A, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Coura JR, Torres RM, Melo JRDC, Almeida EAD, Oliveira Jr. WD, Silveira AC, Rezende JMD, Pinto FS, Ferreira AW, Rassi A, Fragata Filho AA, Sousa ASD, Correia D, Jansen AM, Andrade GMQ, Britto CFDPDC, Pinto AYDN, Rassi Jr. A, Campos DE, Abad-Franch F, Santos SE, Chiari E, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Moreira EF, Marques DSDO, Silva EL, Marin-Neto JA, Galvão LMDC, Xavier SS, Valente SADS, Carvalho NB, Cardoso AV, Silva RAE, Costa VMD, Vivaldini SM, Oliveira SM, Valente VDC, Lima MM, Alves RV. 2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2016; 49Suppl 1:3-60. [DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0505-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Pereira MB, Batista AM, Aguiar C, Marcon GEB, Martins LC, Guariento ME, Costa SCB, de Almeida EA. The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi by nested-PCR in elderly patients: relationship to the clinical and epidemiological profile. Pathog Glob Health 2016; 110:228-232. [PMID: 27666187 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2016.1232850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, which is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted primarily by triatomine bugs, although the incidence of new cases has decreased as a result of vector control. In Brazil, most of those affected have the chronic form of the disease and are generally elderly individuals who require appropriate clinical follow-up. In this work, we undertook a descriptive study in which 85 patients were interviewed and blood samples were collected for molecular analyses based on the amplification of parasite satellite DNA. The cardiac form of the disease was the most prevalent among the patients and hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity; polypharmacy was detected in 34% of the cases. Serological tests were positive in 95% of cases while 36% were positive in nested-polymerase chain reaction. These findings indicate an increased use of medications and a larger number of age-related diseases in elderly patients with Chagas disease, even in patients with low parasitemia. We conclude that elderly patients with Chagas disease require special attention and that further studies should be done with elderly individuals who carry this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane Barroso Pereira
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
| | | | - Camila Aguiar
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Cláudio Martins
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Guariento
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Sandra Cecília Botelho Costa
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Eros Antonio de Almeida
- a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , Brazil
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Saavedra M, Zulantay I, Apt W, Castillo J, Araya E, Martínez G, Rodríguez J. Quantification by real-time PCR of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in samples of Triatoma infestans used in xenodiagnosis of chronic Chagas disease patients. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:382. [PMID: 27377063 PMCID: PMC4932745 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1664-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi multiplies and differentiates in the digestive tract of triatomine insects. Xenodiagnosis (XD) is a parasitological tool in which the insect vectors acts as a biological culture medium to amplify and detect T. cruzi infection in mammals. The sensitivity of XD has been overcome by the application of PCR in fecal samples (FS) of XD (PCR-XD). In this study, T. cruzi amplified in Triatoma infestans fed by XD on individuals with chronic Chagas disease (CChD) is quantified by real-time PCR (qPCR-XD). FINDINGS Under informed consent, 100 individuals were evaluated. In 21 of them XD, PCR-XD and qPCR-XD were positive. For the contrary, 79 were negative XD. In 58 (73.4 %) and 66 cases (83.5 %) of them, PCR-XD (Fisher's exact test P = 0.005) and qPCR-XD (Fisher's exact test: P = 0.037) respectively, were positive. In cases with positive XD, qPCR-XD allowed to establish that in 9/21 cases (42.9 %) the parasite burden fluctuated between 100 and 1,000 par. eq./ml. Otherwise, in 32/79 (40.5 %) cases with negative XD, a parasite burden between 1 and 10 par. eq./ml was determined. All samples showed amplification of exogenous internal control (X12, Ct average: 31.8), so problems in the DNA extraction (excess or loss of genetic material), unspecific amplification and/or inhibition in qPCR-XD reactions were ruled out. Additionally, in all the patients qPCR in blood (qPCR-B) was performed. In the cases with positive XD, the concordance between the positivity of qPCR-XD and qPCR-B was 100 %, nevertheless, the parasite burden in blood was lower and different than XD (Chi-square test: χ (2) = 91.82, df = 5, P = 0.0001). In the cases with negative XD the ranges of qPCR-XD and qPCR-B were similar (Chi-square test: χ (2) = 6.71, df = 5, P = 0.1520). CONCLUSIONS This study allowed the detection and quantification of T. cruzi by qPCR-XD in FS of Tr. infestans fed on patients with CChD. The highest parasite burden was observed in positive XD cases. qPCR-XD could be used in different studies related with the complex T. cruzi-vector-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Saavedra
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Inés Zulantay
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Werner Apt
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Castillo
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo Araya
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriela Martínez
- />Laboratorio de Parasitología Básico-Clínico, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge Rodríguez
- />Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Revisiting the Posttherapeutic Cure Criterion in Chagas Disease: Time for New Methods, More Questions, Doubts, and Polemics or Time to Change Old Concepts? BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:652985. [PMID: 26583124 PMCID: PMC4637035 DOI: 10.1155/2015/652985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
One of the most relevant issues beyond the effectiveness of etiological treatment of Chagas disease is the lack of consensual/feasible tools to identify and certify the definitive parasitological cure. Several methods of distinct natures (parasitological, serological, and molecular) have been continuously proposed and novel perspectives are currently under investigation. Although the simultaneous use of distinct tests may offer better contributions and advances, it also leads to controversies of interpretation, with lack of mutual consent of cure criterion amongst researchers and physicians. In fact, when distinct host compartments (blood/tissues) are evaluated and explored, novel questions may arise due to the nature and sensitivity limit of each test. This short analytical review intends to present a chronological and critical overview and discuss the state-of-the-art distinct devices available for posttherapeutic cure assessment in Chagas disease, their contributions, meanings, and interpretation, aiming to point out the major gaps and propose novel insight for future perspectives of posttherapeutic management of Chagas disease patients.
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Pochini CDC, Gagliardi D, Saad Júnior R, Almeida RFD, Corsi PR. Esophagectomy with gastroplasty in advanced megaesophagus: late results of omeprazole use. Rev Col Bras Cir 2015; 42:299-304. [DOI: 10.1590/0100-69912015005006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the late results of advanced Chagasic megaesophagus treatment by esophagectomy associated with the use of proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole) as for the incidence of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in the remaining stump. Methods : We studied patients with advanced megaesophagus undergoing esophagectomy and transmediastinal esophagogastroplasty. Patients were divided into three groups: A (20) with esophageal replacement by full stomach, without the use of omeprazole; B (20) with esophageal replacement by full stomach, with omeprazole 40 mg/day introduced after the first postoperative endoscopy and maintained for six years; and C (30) with esophageal replacement by gastric tube with use of omeprazole. Dysphagia, weight loss and BMI were clinical parameters we analyzed. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in all patients, and determined the height of the anastomosis, the aspect of the mucosa, with special attention to possible injuries arising from gastroesophageal reflux, and the patency of the esophagogastric anastomosis. Results : We studied 50 patients, 28 males (56%) and 22 (44%) females. All underwent endoscopy every year. In the first endoscopy, erosive esophagitis was present in nine patients (18%) and Barrett's esophagus, in four (8%); in the last endoscopy, erosive esophagitis was present in five patients (8%) and Barrett's esophagus in one (2%). When comparing groups B and C, there was no evidence that the manufacturing of a gastric tube reduced esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. However, when comparing groups A and C, omeprazole use was correlated with reduction of reflux complications such as esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus (p <0.005). Conclusion : The use of omeprazole (40 mg/day) reduced the onset of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus during the late postoperative period.
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Chatelain E, Konar N. Translational challenges of animal models in Chagas disease drug development: a review. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2015; 9:4807-23. [PMID: 26316715 PMCID: PMC4548737 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s90208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite infection is endemic in Latin America and presents an increasing clinical challenge due to migrating populations. Despite being first identified over a century ago, only two drugs are available for its treatment, and recent outcomes from the first clinical trials in 40 years were lackluster. There is a critical need to develop new drugs to treat Chagas disease. This requires a better understanding of the progression of parasite infection, and standardization of animal models designed for Chagas disease drug discovery. Such measures would improve comparison of generated data and the predictability of test hypotheses and models designed for translation to human disease. Existing animal models address both disease pathology and treatment efficacy. Available models have limited predictive value for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies and need to more confidently predict the efficacy of new drug candidates in clinical trials. This review highlights the overall lack of standardized methodology and assessment tools, which has hampered the development of efficacious compounds to treat Chagas disease. We provide an overview of animal models for Chagas disease, and propose steps that could be undertaken to reduce variability and improve predictability of drug candidate efficacy. New technological developments and tools may contribute to a much needed boost in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DND i ), Geneva, Switzerland
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Antitrypanosomal Treatment with Benznidazole Is Superior to Posaconazole Regimens in Mouse Models of Chagas Disease. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:6385-94. [PMID: 26239982 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00689-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two CYP51 inhibitors, posaconazole and the ravuconazole prodrug E1224, were recently tested in clinical trials for efficacy in indeterminate Chagas disease. The results from these studies show that both drugs cleared parasites from the blood of infected patients at the end of the treatment but that parasitemia rebounded over the following months. In the current study, we sought to identify a dosing regimen of posaconazole that could permanently clear Trypanosoma cruzi from mice with experimental Chagas disease. Infected mice were treated with posaconazole or benznidazole, an established Chagas disease drug, and parasitological cure was defined as an absence of parasitemia recrudescence after immunosuppression. Twenty-day therapy with benznidazole (10 to 100 mg/kg of body weight/day) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in antiparasitic activity, and the 100-mg/kg regimen effected parasitological cure in all treated mice. In contrast, all mice remained infected after a 25-day treatment with posaconazole at all tested doses (10 to 100 mg/kg/day). Further extension of posaconazole therapy to 40 days resulted in only a marginal improvement of treatment outcome. We also observed similar differences in antiparasitic activity between benznidazole and posaconazole in acute T. cruzi heart infections. While benznidazole induced rapid, dose-dependent reductions in heart parasite burdens, the antiparasitic activity of posaconazole plateaued at low doses (3 to 10 mg/kg/day) despite increasing drug exposure in plasma. These observations are in good agreement with the outcomes of recent phase 2 trials with posaconazole and suggest that the efficacy models combined with the pharmacokinetic analysis employed here will be useful in predicting clinical outcomes of new drug candidates.
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Pérez-Molina JA, Perez AM, Norman FF, Monge-Maillo B, López-Vélez R. Old and new challenges in Chagas disease. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015; 15:1347-56. [PMID: 26231478 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00243-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease, which can lead to cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, megaviscera, and more rarely, polyneuropathy in up to 30-40% of patients around 20 to 30 years after acute infection. Although it is endemic in the Americas, global population movements mean that it can be located wherever migrants from endemic areas settle. The disease was first described 100 years ago and still challenges clinicians worldwide, since diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic methods remain insufficient. Furthermore, factors such as HIV co-infection, immunosuppressive drugs, transplantation, and neoplastic disease can alter the natural course of the infection. We present the case of a Bolivian woman with chronic T cruzi infection diagnosed at our clinic in Madrid, Spain, who subsequently developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our report illustrates the challenges of an increasingly common infection seen in non-endemic countries, and highlights both daily management dilemmas and associated difficulties that arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Pérez-Molina
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Insituto Ramón y Cajal de Investgación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Angela Martinez Perez
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Insituto Ramón y Cajal de Investgación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca F Norman
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Insituto Ramón y Cajal de Investgación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Monge-Maillo
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Insituto Ramón y Cajal de Investgación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rogelio López-Vélez
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Insituto Ramón y Cajal de Investgación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
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Follow-up of an asymptomatic Chagas disease population of children after treatment with nifurtimox (Lampit) in a sylvatic endemic transmission area of Colombia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003465. [PMID: 25723465 PMCID: PMC4344301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Two drugs are currently used for the etiological treatment of the disease: Nifurtimox (Lampit) and Benznidazole. This study presents a quasi-experimental trial (non-control group) of sixty-two patients who were treated for Chagas disease with Nifurtimox (Lampit), and were then followed for 30 months post-treatment. The safety of Nifurtimox (Lampit) for Chagas disease in this group of children primarily between 4 and 19 years old was also evaluated. Materials and methods The 62 patients included in the study were selected when resulted seropositive for two out of three fundamentally different serological tests. All children were treated during two months according to protocols established by WHO. Monitoring was performed every twenty days to evaluate treatment safety. In 43 patients, two different serological tests: ELISA and IFAT; and two parasitological tests: blood culture, and real time PCR, (qPCR) were performed to assess therapeutic response, defined as post-treatment serological negativization. Principal findings All patients completed the treatment successfully, and six patients abandoned the post-treatment follow-up. Adverse effects occurred in 74% of patients, but only 4.8% of cases required temporary suspension to achieve 100% adherence to the 60-day treatment, and all symptoms reverted after treatment completion. Both parasite load (measured through qPCR) and antibodies (ELISA absorbance) evidenced a significant median reduction 6 months after treatment from 6.2 to 0.2 parasite equivalents/mL, and from 0.6 to 0.2 absorbance units respectively (p<0.001). Serological negativization by ELISA was evident since 6 months post-treatment, whereas by IFAT only after 18 months. Serological negativization by the two tests (ELISA and IFAT) was 41.9% (95%CI: 26.5–57.3) after 30 months post-treatment. qPCR was positive in 88.3% of patients pre-treatment and only in 12.1% of patients after 30 months. Survival analysis indicated that only 26.3% (95%CI: 15.5–44.8) persisted with negative qPCR during the whole follow-up period. Conclusions Nifurtimox was very well tolerated and successfully reduced parasite load and antibody titers. Re-infection, lysed parasites or a lack of anti-parasitic activity could explain these persistently positive qPCR cases. Chagas disease is currently treated with two drugs, Benznidazole (BNZ) and Nifurtimox (NFX). The need to find the ideal diagnostic technique for post treatment evaluation still exists, due to the known flaws of the currently used techniques. We performed an evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of Nifurtimox treatment in a population of 62 children infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in an endemic Colombian area. The effectiveness was evaluated with two serological tests (IFAT and ELISA), and with two parasitological tests (blood culture and qPCR). We suggest the use of qPCR as a marker of response in all future treatment evaluations for Chagas disease, due to its potential to detect early treatment failure and/or reinfection. In order to have more conclusive results, it is important to perform this kind of study in a controlled environment, wherein the risk of reinfection is not considered.
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Machado-de-Assis GF, Diniz GA, Montoya RA, Dias JCP, Coura JR, Machado-Coelho GLL, Albajar-Viñas P, Torres RM, Lana MD. A serological, parasitological and clinical evaluation of untreated Chagas disease patients and those treated with benznidazole before and thirteen years after intervention. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 108:873-80. [PMID: 24037109 PMCID: PMC3970640 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiological treatment of Chagas disease is recommended for all patients with acute or recent chronic infection, but controversies remain regarding the benefit of chemotherapy and interpretations of the parasitological cure after etiological treatment. This study compares the laboratory and clinical evaluations of Chagas disease patients who were diagnosed 13 years earlier. Fifty-eight Chagas disease patients (29 treated with benznidazole and 29 untreated) were matched at the time of treatment based on several variables. Conventional serology revealed the absence of seroconversion in all patients. However, lower serological titres were verified in the treated group, primarily among patients who had the indeterminate form of the disease. Haemoculture performed 13 years after the intervention was positive for 6.9% and 27.6% of the treated and untreated patients, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction tests were positive for 44.8% and 13.8% of the treated and untreated patients, respectively. Patients who presented with the indeterminate form of the disease at the beginning of the study exhibited less clinical progression (17.4%) compared with the untreated group (56.5%). Therefore, this global analysis revealed that etiological treatment with benznidazole may benefit patients with respect to the clinical progression of Chagas disease and the prognosis, particularly when administered to patients with the indeterminate form of the disease.
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Low frequency of circulating CD8+ T stem cell memory cells in chronic chagasic patients with severe forms of the disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e3432. [PMID: 25569149 PMCID: PMC4287481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CD8+ T cells have been shown to play a crucial role in Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Memory CD8+ T cells can be categorised based on their distinct differentiation stages and functional activities as follows: stem cell memory (TSCM), central memory (TCM), transitional memory (TTM), effector memory (TEM) and terminal effector (TTE) cells. Currently, the immune mechanisms that control T. cruzi in the chronic phase of the infection are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings To characterise the CD8+ T cell subsets that could be participating in the control of T. cruzi infection, in this study, we compared total and T. cruzi-specific circulating CD8+ T cells with distinctive phenotypic and functional features in chronic chagasic patients (CCPs) with different degrees of cardiac dysfunction. We observed a decreased frequency of total TSCM along with an increased frequency of TTE in CCPs with severe disease. Antigen-specific TSCM cells were not detectable in CCPs with severe forms of the disease. A functional profile of CD8+ T cell subsets among CCPs revealed a high frequency of monofunctional CD8+ T cells in the most severe patients with IFN-γ+- or TNF-α+-producing cells. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest that CD8+ TSCM cells may be associated with the immune response to T. cruzi and outcome of Chagas disease, given that these cells may be involved in repopulating the T cell pool that controls infection. Chagas disease is caused by the intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. After the onset of acute infection, all individuals enter the chronic phase and approximately 70% of them never have symptoms. However, nearly 30% of infected individuals develop symptoms, mainly of heart disease, even decades after the initial infection. Currently, it is unclear how the immune response controls infection and prevents the development of heart disease in some infected people. We have characterised the memory CD8+ T cell subsets in chronic chagasic patients, including a newly described population of cells called memory stem cells. This T cell subset seems important for replenishing the other T cell populations. The findings in this manuscript show that chronic chagasic patients with severe disease have the following: a) a low frequency of memory stem cells, b) no antigen-specific memory stem cells, and c) CD8+ T cells with less effector function compared with asymptomatic patients. These results indicate that the lack of T cell population renewal and the decrease in cells with multiple effector functions may be associated with the clinical outcome of chronic Chagas disease.
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Pritt BS. Molecular Diagnostics in the Diagnosis of Parasitic Infection. METHODS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Alessio GD, Côrtes DF, Machado de Assis GF, Júnior PAS, Ferro EAV, Antonelli LRDV, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Martins-Filho OA, de Lana M. Innovations in diagnosis and post-therapeutic monitoring of Chagas disease: Simultaneous flow cytometric detection of IgG1 antibodies anti-live amastigote, anti-live trypomastigote, and anti-fixed epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Immunol Methods 2014; 413:32-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Velázquez EB, Rivero R, Rissio AMD, Malagrino N, Esteva MI, Riarte AR, Ruiz. AM. Predictive role of polymerase chain reaction in the early diagnosis of congenital Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Acta Trop 2014; 137:195-200. [PMID: 24892867 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of specific chemotherapy in congenital Chagas disease before the first year of life ranges between 90 and 100%. Between this age and 15 years of age, the efficacy decreases to around 60%. Therefore, early infection detection is a priority in vertical transmission. The aim of this work was to assess whether polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plays a predictive role in the diagnosis of congenital Chagas disease as compared to conventional parasitological and serological methods. To this end, we studied a total of 468 children born to Trypanosoma cruzi seroreactive mothers came from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, who lived in the city of Buenos Aires and suburban areas (Argentina), a non-endemic area of this country. These children were assessed by PCR from 2004 to 2009 with the specific primers Tcz1 and Tcz2, and 121 and 122. PCR allowed detecting 49 T. cruzi-positive children. Eight of these 49 children were excluded from the analysis: six because they did not complete follow-up and two because the first control was performed after 12 months of age. Parasitological methods allowed detecting 25 positive children, 7 of whom had been earlier diagnosed by PCR (1.53±2.00 vs. 6.71±1.46 months; p=0.0002). Serological methods allowed detecting 16 positive children, 12 of whom had been earlier diagnosed by PCR (1.46±1.48 vs. 11.77±4.40 months; p<0.0001). None of the children negative by PCR was positive by serological or parasitological methods. This study shows that PCR allows early diagnosis in congenital Chagas disease. At present, an early positive PCR is not indicative for treatment. However, a positive PCR would alert the health system to search only those infected infants diagnosed by early PCR and thus generate greater efficiency in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital T. cruzi infection.
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Nagarkatti R, de Araujo FF, Gupta C, Debrabant A. Aptamer based, non-PCR, non-serological detection of Chagas disease biomarkers in Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2650. [PMID: 24454974 PMCID: PMC3894185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease affects about 5 million people across the world. The etiological agent, the intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), can be diagnosed using microscopy, serology or PCR based assays. However, each of these methods has their limitations regarding sensitivity and specificity, and thus to complement these existing diagnostic methods, alternate assays need to be developed. It is well documented that several parasite proteins called T. cruzi Excreted Secreted Antigens (TESA), are released into the blood of an infected host. These circulating parasite antigens could thus be used as highly specific biomarkers of T. cruzi infection. In this study, we have demonstrated that, using a SELEx based approach, parasite specific ligands called aptamers, can be used to detect TESA in the plasma of T. cruzi infected mice. An Enzyme Linked Aptamer (ELA) assay, similar to ELISA, was developed using biotinylated aptamers to demonstrate that these RNA ligands could interact with parasite targets. Aptamer L44 (Apt-L44) showed significant and specific binding to TESA as well as T. cruzi trypomastigote extract and not to host proteins or proteins of Leishmania donovani, a related trypanosomatid parasite. Our result also demonstrated that the target of Apt-L44 is conserved in three different strains of T. cruzi. In mice infected with T. cruzi, Apt-L44 demonstrated a significantly higher level of binding compared to non-infected mice suggesting that it could detect a biomarker of T. cruzi infection. Additionally, Apt-L44 could detect these circulating biomarkers in both the acute phase, from 7 to 28 days post infection, and in the chronic phase, from 55 to 230 days post infection. Our results show that Apt-L44 could thus be used in a qualitative ELA assay to detect biomarkers of Chagas disease. Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major health concern for people living in Latin America. There are no vaccines to prevent this disease and only two drugs are prescribed for treatment. Current methods to diagnose patients are not always successful and thus new methods need to be developed. One approach to develop an alternate method is to detect proteins and metabolites that are secreted by parasites into the blood of infected individuals. We have utilized a selection based method to isolate ligands that bind to these secreted proteins. These ligands, called aptamers, have been used to develop an assay that can detect the circulating parasite targets in the plasma or serum of an infected host. In an animal model of Chagas disease, our assay can detect parasite biomarkers as early as seven days after infection and as late as 230 days post infection. As the laboratory instruments and procedures are similar to performing an ELISA, the aptamer assay reported here could be easily performed at diagnostic facilities. Further improvement in this assay can lead to a new quantitative diagnostic test for Chagas disease. A similar selection based approach could also be used to develop ligands for the detection of biomarkers in other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Nagarkatti
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Fernanda Fortes de Araujo
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charu Gupta
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Oliveira I, Torrico F, Muñoz J, Gascon J. Congenital transmission of Chagas disease: a clinical approach. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 8:945-56. [DOI: 10.1586/eri.10.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Requena-Méndez A, López MC, Angheben A, Izquierdo L, Ribeiro I, Pinazo MJ, Gascon J, Muñoz J. Evaluating Chagas disease progression and cure through blood-derived biomarkers: a systematic review. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 11:957-76. [DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2013.824718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Fabbro D, Velazquez E, Bizai ML, Denner S, Olivera V, Arias E, Pravia C, Ruiz AM. Evaluation of the ELISA-F29 test as an early marker of therapeutic efficacy in adults with chronic Chagas disease. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2013; 55:S0036-46652013000300167. [PMID: 23740013 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652013000300005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This work compared the time at which negative seroconversion was detected by conventional serology (CS) and by the ELISA-F29 test on a cohort of chronic chagasic patients treated with nifurtimox or benznidazole. A retrospective study was performed using preserved serum from 66 asymptomatic chagasic adults under clinical supervision, and bi-annual serological examinations over a mean follow-up of 23 years. Twenty nine patients received trypanocide treatment and 37 remained untreated. The ELISA-F29 test used a recombinant antigen which was obtained by expressing the Trypanosoma cruzi flagellar calcium-binding protein gene in Escherichia coli. Among the untreated patients, 36 maintained CS titers. One patient showed a doubtful serology in some check-ups. ELISA-F29 showed constant reactivity in 35 out of 37 patients and was negative for the patient with fluctuating CS. The treated patients were divided into three groups according to the CS titers: in 13 they became negative; in 12 they decreased and in four they remained unchanged. ELISA-F29 was negative for the first two groups. The time at which negativization was detected was significantly lower for the ELISA-F29 test than for CS, 14.5 ± 5.7 and 22 ± 4.9 years respectively. Negative seroconversion was observed in treated patients only. The results obtained confirm that the ELISA-F29 test is useful as an early indicator of negative seroconversion in treated chronic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Fabbro
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Endemias Nacionales, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Casilla de Correo 242, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Evaluation of nifurtimox treatment of chronic Chagas disease by means of several parasitological methods. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:4518-23. [PMID: 23836179 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00227-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, evaluation of drug efficacy for Chagas disease remains a controversial issue with no consensus. In this work, we evaluated the parasitological efficacy of Nifurtimox treatment in 21 women with chronic Chagas disease from an area of endemicity in Chile who were treated according to current protocols. Under pre- and posttherapy conditions, blood (B) samples and xenodiagnosis (XD) samples from these patients were subjected to analysis by real-time PCR targeting the nuclear satellite DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi (Sat DNA PCR-B, Sat DNA PCR-XD) and by PCR targeting the minicircle of kinetoplast DNA of T. cruzi (kDNA PCR-B, kDNA PCR-XD) and by T. cruzi genotyping using hybridization minicircle tests in blood and fecal samples of Triatoma infestans feed by XD. In pretherapy, kDNA PCR-B and kDNA PCR-XD detected T. cruzi in 12 (57%) and 18 (86%) cases, respectively, whereas Sat DNA quantitative PCR-B (qPCR-B) and Sat DNA qPCR-XD were positive in 18 cases (86%) each. Regarding T. cruzi genotype analysis, it was possible to observe in pretherapy the combination of TcI, TcII, and TcV lineages, including mixtures of T. cruzi strains in most of the cases. At 13 months posttherapy, T. cruzi DNA was detectable in 6 cases (29.6%) and 4 cases (19.1%) by means of Sat DNA PCR-XD and kDNA PCR-XD, respectively, indicating treatment failure with recovery of live parasites refractory to chemotherapy. In 3 cases, it was possible to identify persistence of the baseline genotypes. The remaining 15 baseline PCR-positive cases gave negative results by all molecular and parasitological methods at 13 months posttreatment, suggesting parasite response. Within this follow-up period, kDNA PCR-XD and Sat DNA qPCR-XD proved to be more sensitive tools for the parasitological evaluation of the efficacy of Nifurtimox treatment than the corresponding PCR methods performed directly from blood samples.
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Strauss M, Lo Presti MS, Bazán PC, Baez A, Fauro R, Esteves B, Sanchez Negrete O, Cremonezzi D, Paglini-Oliva PA, Rivarola HW. Clomipramine and benznidazole association for the treatment of acute experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:293-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Moreira OC, Ramírez JD, Velázquez E, Melo MFAD, Lima-Ferreira C, Guhl F, Sosa-Estani S, Marin-Neto JA, Morillo CA, Britto C. Towards the establishment of a consensus real-time qPCR to monitor Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia in patients with chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy: a substudy from the BENEFIT trial. Acta Trop 2013; 125:23-31. [PMID: 22982466 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is an accurate method to quantify Trypanosoma cruzi DNA and can be used to follow-up parasitemia in Chagas disease (CD) patients undergoing chemotherapy. The Benznidazole Evaluation for Interrupting Trypanosomiasis (BENEFIT) study is an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of benznidazole (BZ) treatment in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). One important question to be addressed concerns the effectiveness of BZ in reducing overall parasite load in CCC patients, even in the absence of parasitological cure. This report describes the evaluation of multiple procedures for DNA extraction and qPCR-based protocols aiming to establish a standardized methodology for the absolute quantification of T. cruzi DNA in Guanidine-EDTA blood (GEB) samples. A panel of five primer sets directed to the T. cruzi nuclear satellite DNA repeats (Sat-DNA) and to the minicircle DNA conserved regions (kDNA) was compared in either SYBR Green or TaqMan systems. Standard curve parameters such as, amplification efficiency, coefficient of determination and intercept were evaluated, as well as different procedures to generate standard samples containing pre-established T. cruzi DNA concentration. Initially, each primer set was assayed in a SYBR Green qPCR to estimate parasite load in GEB samples from chronic Chagas disease patients. The results achieved from Bayesian transmutability analysis elected the primer sets Cruzi1/Cruzi2 (p=0.0031) and Diaz7/Diaz8 (p=0.0023) coupled to the QIAamp DNA Kit extraction protocol (silica gel column), as the most suitable for monitoring parasitemia in these patients. Comparison between the parasite burden of 150 GEB samples of BENEFIT patients from Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, prior to drug/placebo administration, was performed using Cruzi1/Cruzi2 primers in a SYBR Green approach. The median parasitemia found in patients from Argentina and Colombia (1.93 and 2.31 parasite equivalents/mL, respectively) was around 20 times higher than the one estimated for the Brazilian patients (0.1 parasite equivalents/mL). This difference could be in part due to the complexity of T. cruzi genetic diversity, which is a factor possibly implicated in different clinical presentations of the disease and/or influencing parasitemia levels in infected individuals from different regions of Latin America. The results of SYBR Green qPCR assays herein presented prove this methodology to be more cost efficient than the alternative use of internal fluorogenic probes. In addition, its sensitivity and reproducibility are shown to be adequate to detect low parasitemia burden in patients with chronic Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otacilio C Moreira
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Abstract
American trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America, where an estimated 10-14 million people are infected, and an emerging disease in Europe and the USA. Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted by blood-sucking bugs of the family Reduviidae. Rhodnius prolixus, Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma infestans, and T. dimidiata are the main vectors in the sylvatic cycle. Non vector-borne transmission includes blood transfusion, congenital and oral transmission, transplantation, and accidental infections. Most cases of acute infection occur in childhood and are usually asymptomatic, although severe myocarditis and meningoencephalitis may occur. Approximately 30% of T. cruzi-infected people will develop the chronic stage of the disease. Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy is characterized by progressive heart failure, arrhythmias, intraventricular conduction defects, sudden death, and peripheral thromboembolism. Acute exacerbation can occur in individuals with involvement of cellular immunity such as advanced AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), and transplant-associated immunosuppression. Neurological involvement may present with encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or a space-occupying cerebral lesion called chagoma. Chagas disease is a major cause of ischemic stroke in Latin America. Several epidemiological studies have found an association between T. cruzi infection and cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Benznidazole and nifurtimox are the two available trypanocide drugs against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Carod-Artal
- Neurology Department, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK and Health Sciences and Medicine Faculty, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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