HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN CHAGAS-DISEASE SEROLOGY AND PCR-BASED DETECTION OF TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI KINETOPLAST DNA IN BOLIVIAN CHILDREN LIVING IN AN ENDEMIC AREA

The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification is a potentially powerful tool for the p arasitological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. We have applied this tech nique in a field situation in Bolivia, where 45 children from a primar y school were subjected to serological testing, buffy coat analysis an d PCR diagnosis. 26 of the 28 serology-positive individuals were also positive by PCR. In addition, two serology-negative children gave a po sitive result by PCR, including one who was positive in the buffy coat test. These results suggest that PCR detection of T. cruzi DNA in blo od can be a very useful complement to serology in Chagas' disease diag nosis in Bolivia.