High similarity of Trypanosoma cruzikDNA genetic profiles detected by LSSP-PCR within family groups in an endemic area of Chagas disease in Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 653 - 656
• Main Authors: Alkmim-Oliveira, Sandra Maria, Kappel, Henrique Borges, Andrade, Cristiane Pontes, Prata, Aluízio, Ramirez, Luis Eduardo, Correia, Dalmo, Lages-Silva, Eliane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 01-10-2014
• Subjects: TROPICAL MEDICINE; Endemic area; LSSP-PCR; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0255-2013

IntroductionDetermining the genetic similarities among Trypanosoma cruzi populations isolated from different hosts and vectors is very important to clarify the epidemiology of Chagas disease.MethodsAn epidemiological study was conducted in a Brazilian endemic area for Chagas disease, including 76 chronic chagasic individuals (96.1% with an indeterminate form; 46.1% with positive hemoculture).ResultsT. cruzi I (TcI) was isolated from one child and TcII was found in the remaining (97.1%) subjects. Low-stringency single-specific-primer-polymerase chain reaction (LSSP-PCR) showed high heterogeneity among TcII populations (46% of shared bands); however, high similarities (80-100%) among pairs of mothers/children, siblings, or cousins were detected.ConclusionsLSSP-PCR showed potential for identifying similar parasite populations among individuals with close kinship in epidemiological studies of Chagas disease.