Evaluation of chimeric recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs: a promising tool for Chagas disease surveillance

Parasit Vectors. 2024 Jul 15;17(1):305. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06376-5.

Abstract

Background: Chagas disease (CD), a neglected parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, poses a significant health threat in Latin America and has emerged globally because of human migration. Trypanosoma cruzi infects humans and over 100 other mammalian species, including dogs, which are important sentinels for assessing the risk of human infection. Nonetheless, the serodiagnosis of T. cruzi in dogs is still impaired by the absence of commercial tests. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of four chimeric recombinant T. cruzi IBMP antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4) for detecting anti-T. cruzi antibodies in dogs, using latent class analysis (LCA).

Methods: We examined 663 canine serum samples, employing indirect ELISA with the chimeric antigens. LCA was utilized to establish a latent variable as a gold standard for T. cruzi infection, revealing distinct response patterns for each antigen.

Results: The IBMP (Portuguese acronym for the Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná) antigens achieved area under the ROC curve (AUC) values ranging from 90.9% to 97.3%. The highest sensitivity was attributed to IBMP-8.2 (89.8%), while IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4 achieved 73.5%, 79.6%, and 85.7%, respectively. The highest specificity was observed for IBMP-8.4 (98.6%), followed by IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.1 with specificities of 98.3%, 94.4%, and 92.7%, respectively. Predictive values varied according to prevalence, indicating higher effectiveness in endemic settings.

Conclusions: Our findings underscore the remarkable diagnostic performance of IBMP-8.2 and IBMP-8.4 for the serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs, representing a promising tool for the diagnosis of CD in dogs. These chimeric recombinant antigens may not only enhance CD surveillance strategies but also hold broader implications for public health, contributing to the global fight against this neglected tropical disease.

Keywords: Trypanosoma cruzi; Canine serodiagnosis; Chagas disease; Diagnostic performance; Latent class analysis; Recombinant chimeric antigens.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan* / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / immunology
  • Chagas Disease* / diagnosis
  • Chagas Disease* / parasitology
  • Chagas Disease* / veterinary
  • Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases* / parasitology
  • Dogs
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* / methods
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* / veterinary
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity*
  • Serologic Tests* / methods
  • Serologic Tests* / veterinary
  • Trypanosoma cruzi* / genetics
  • Trypanosoma cruzi* / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Recombinant Proteins