ABSTRACT
The reactivities of sera from chronic chagasic patients against the trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigens (TESA) of Trypanosoma cruzi strains with different biodemes were analyzed by TESA-blot and TESA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Although both tests presented high sensitivity and specificity, TESA-ELISA is more appropriate for screening a larger number of samples.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/blood , Chagas Disease/diagnosis , Chagas Disease/parasitology , Trypanosoma cruzi/immunology , Animals , Chronic Disease , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Guinea Pigs , Humans , Immunoblotting , Serologic TestsABSTRACT
The polypeptides of 46 and 58 kDa were recognized in different T. cruzi strains (Y, WSL and Colombiana) by serum of all chagasic patients studied. These polypeptides were isolated from T. cruzi Y strain and used in ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity were 97.6% [CI 95%: 86-100%] and 100% [CI 95%: 89.3-100%], respectively when Tc 46 was used. When Tc 58 was used the sensitivity and specificity were 100% [CI 95%: 89.6-100%] and 90.2% [CI 95%: 75.9-96.8%], respectively.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/analysis , Chagas Disease/diagnosis , Animals , Chronic Disease , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Humans , Molecular Weight , Sensitivity and Specificity , Trypanosoma cruziABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of hemoglobin "S" (Hb "S") in babies born at the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) and its occurrence according to sex, birth weight and Apgar score. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study of all babies born in the IMIP from October 1996 to March 1997. We used alkaline electrophoresis to analyze cord blood samples (1,988). Data for other variables were collected from medical reports. EPI-Info 6.0 was used to analyze the data.RESULTS: We found 105 (5.3%) newborns with Hb "S": 102 (5.1%.) as sickle cell trait (Hb "FAS"), and 3 (0.2%) as sickle cell disease (Hb "SC"). No cases of homozygosis were found. Newborns with and without Hb "S" did not differ in relation to sex, birth weight and Apgar score. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest the implementation of neonatal screening for hemoglobinopathies for all the newborns in Recife, Brazil, with further follow up focusing on genetic counseling for suspected and positive cases.
