Serological based monitoring of a cohort of patients with chronic chagas disease treated with benznidazole in a highly endemic area of Northern Argentina

Authors

Leticia L. Niborski, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Vanina Grippo, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Sonia O. Lafón, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Gabriela Levitus, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Facundo García-Bournissen, Hospital de Ninos Ricardo GutierrezFollow
Juan C. Ramirez, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Juan M. Burgos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Margarita Bisio, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Natalia A. Juiz, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Vilma Ayala, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
María Coppede, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Verónica Herrera, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Crescencia López, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Ana Contreras, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Karina A. Gómez, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Juan C. Elean, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Hugo D. Mujica, Centro Asistencial Cáritas Diocesana
Alejandro G. Schijman, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Mariano J. Levin, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires
Silvia A. Longhi, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2016

Journal

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Volume

111

Issue

6

First Page

365

Last Page

371

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1590/0074-02760160006

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate well-documented diagnostic antigens, named B13, 1F8 and JL7 recombinant proteins, as potential markers of seroconversion in treated chagasic patients. Prospective study, involving 203 patients treated with benznidazole, was conducted from endemic areas of northern Argentina. Follow-up was possible in 107 out of them and blood samples were taken for serology and PCR assays before and 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after treatment initiation. Reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi lysate and recombinant antigens was measured by ELISA. The rate of decrease of antibody titers showed nonlinear kinetics with an abrupt drop within the first three months after initiation of treatment for all studied antigens, followed by a plateau displaying a low decay until the end of follow-up. At this point, anti-B13, anti-1F8 and anti-JL7 titers were relatively close to the cut-off line, while anti-T. cruzi antibodies still remained positive. At baseline, 60.8% (45/74) of analysed patients tested positive for parasite DNA by PCR and during the follow-up period in 34 out of 45 positive samples (75.5%) could not be detected T. cruzi DNA. Our results suggest that these antigens might be useful as early markers for monitoring antiparasitic treatment in chronic Chagas disease.