Molecular characterization of human Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from endemic areas in Panama

The present work provides information on Trypanosoma cruzi genotype circulating in endemic areas of Chagas disease in Panama. A total of 26 crude stocks of T. cruzi, isolated from the blood of persons with different clinical profiles of Chagas disease were collected and crio-conserved until used. Mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Octavio E Sousa, Franklyn Samudio, Corina de Juncá, José E Calzada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) 2006-06-01
Series:Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762006000400018
Description
Summary:The present work provides information on Trypanosoma cruzi genotype circulating in endemic areas of Chagas disease in Panama. A total of 26 crude stocks of T. cruzi, isolated from the blood of persons with different clinical profiles of Chagas disease were collected and crio-conserved until used. Most of the stocks had been characterized by means of isoenzyme electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes. The clinical profiles of infected persons included 9 (34.6%) asymptomatic and 17 acute (65.4%) including 5 (19.2%) fatal cases, 2 under 5 years old and 3 adults. A multiplex-PCR assay based on the amplification of the non-transcribed spacer of the mini-exon gene was performed. All stocks of T. cruzi included in the study were found to correspond to Tc I group. This result supports the predominance of T. cruzi-I in the transmission cycles affecting the human population in the Republic of Panama.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060