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Research, Chagas

ChagasLAMP (GHIT G2020-2023)

Field validation of Trypanosoma cruzi-LAMP: a molecular point-of-care test for the control of congenital Chagas disease

A young Bolivian girl is tested for Chagas disease
Photo: Ana Ferreira
Duration
01/04/2021 - 31/03/2023
Coordinator
Julio Alonso
Funded by
Global Health Innovative Fund (GHIT)

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects ~7 million people, mostly in Latin America. Vector-borne transmission is on the way of being controlled in several countries, but vertical transmission remains an uncontrolled major public-health challenge. Remarkably, available drugs have a very high cure rate in T. cruzi-infected newborns if administered early upon infection, thus a timely diagnose is crucial for treatment success.

However, the algorithm to detect congenital T. cruzi infection involves parasitological methods that lack sensitivity and a serological study must be performed several months later. In many endemic regions, people live far from referral centres which entails that a large proportion of infants rarely go back for diagnosis confirmation and treatment, if infected. Consequently, they evolve to the chronic phase of the disease with the risk of developing severe manifestations.

Molecular-based diagnostics have a very high sensitivity to detect congenital T. cruzi infections, but laboratories in those distant regions are not equipped to perform them. With the aim to provide a suitable point-of-care (POC) test for the timely diagnosis of congenital Chagas disease in these settings, we will validate the implementation of EIKEN T. cruzi loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) prototype in the field.

Total Funding

¥ 147,127,368

Our Team

Coordinator

ISGlobal Team

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