Topic:

Diagnostics

Abstract No.:

ISE.357

Title:

Detection of soluble antigen and DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi in urine samples is not related to renal injury in the Guinea pig model

Author(s):

Y. Castro Sesquen¹, V. Yauri¹, R. Gilman², M. Verastegui³, D. Velasquez⁴, N. Angulo¹, C. Bern⁵; ¹Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Laboratorio de Investigacion y Desarrollo, Lima/PE, ²Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD/US, ³Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Infectious Disease Laboratory-LID, Microbiology, Lima/PE, ⁴Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Infectious Dieases Laboratories, Lima/PE, ⁵CDC, Atlanta, AT/US

Abstract:

Background: The diagnosis of Chagas disease is limited to the detection of antibodies. Detection of T. cruzi antigens in urine has been reported, but is not used in the diagnosis. In this study, soluble T.cruzi antigens and DNA were detected in urine samples and was not found to be associated with kidney injury.
Methods: We used 72 guinea pigs infected with T. cruzi and 18 non-infected. Blood, kidney, heart and urine were collected during the acute and chronic phases. Urine samples were concentrated by ultrafiltration. Antigens and DNA were detected by Western Blot and PCR, respectively.
Results: T. cruzi antigens (75 kDa, 80 kDa, 120 kDa, 150 kDa) were detected in the acute (67.5%) and chronic (45%) phases. Parasite DNA in urine was detected in the acute phase (47.3%). Kidney injury was characterized by high levels of proteinuria, KIM-1 and urea as well as inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis and scarce parasites.  The detection of antigen and DNA in urine was associated with the presence of parasite in blood and heart, but not with the presence of parasite in kidney or kidney injury.
Conclusion: Detection of T. cruziin urine could be a useful tool towards the diagnosis of Chagas disease.