Specific and sensitive immunological diagnosis of Chagas'disease by competitive antibody enzime immunoassay using a Trypanosoma cruzi-specific monoclonal antibody

Abstract

Ábstract. Coexistence of Chagas' disease with leishmaniasis and T. rangeli infection in endemic areas and cross-reactivity between corresponding etiological agents can confuse the inmunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease. A discriminative serological test could therefore represent a major advance in specifc immunodiagnosis. A competitive antibody enzyme immunoassay against acomponent 5-enriched preparation, using a T. cruzi species-specific monoclonal antibody has allowed development of a specific serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease with high sensitivity (96.6% in undetermined and chronic phases of infection). This test can differentiate Chagas' disease from other cross-reacting parasitic diseases in areas where concomitant infections are unknown or suspected.