Innovative Diagnostic Test Developed for Assessing Cure in Chagas Disease

Researchers from the University of Georgia's Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases have achieved a significant breakthrough by developing the first reliable test to determine whether treatment for Chagas disease has been successful. Published in the journal eLife, this novel diagnostic approach employs veloping 'deep-sampling' PCR techniques, which detect the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi at incredibly low levels, overcoming the limitations of traditional testing methods.

Chagas disease affects an estimated 6 to 8 million individuals worldwide, predominantly in Central and South America, but also poses a health concern in the United States, with about 280,000 infected individuals. The disease can be fatal, with over 10,000 deaths annually. In many cases, the immune system keeps the parasite under control, making it challenging to ascertain if the treatment has successfully eradicated the infection due to the low parasite load.

Traditional tests often fail to detect residual infection because of their insensitivity, analogous to trying to find a few tea leaves in a cup of tea—a small amount may go unnoticed in standard blood samples. This creates uncertainty in determining whether a patient's infection has been cured or if parasites still remain.

The new testing protocol involves collecting multiple blood samples and fragmenting DNA to increase the chances of parasite detection. In studies involving naturally infected macaque monkeys, dogs, and humans, researchers monitored infection levels over time and confirmed the technique's accuracy by cultivating T. cruzi cultures from blood samples. The method demonstrated high sensitivity even when parasite levels were minimal.

Since the infection process in macaques mirrors that in humans and dogs, scientists are confident that this testing approach can be effectively applied across species. The team also collaborated with Texas A&M University and researchers in Argentina to validate the method with additional samples.

While the current process offers precise results, it is labor-intensive and costly. To address this, efforts are underway to develop faster, more affordable technology, including partnerships with Countable Labs, which specializes in large-sample testing. These advances aim to facilitate broader clinical application, enabling healthcare providers to evaluate treatment success more reliably and promptly.

This breakthrough represents a critical step forward in the fight against Chagas disease. A true test of cure will significantly enhance drug development, improve patient management, and ultimately reduce the disease's global burden.

For more details, see the original study: Brooke E White et al, Serial 'deep-sampling' PCR of fragmented DNA reveals the wide range of Trypanosoma cruzi burden among chronically infected human, macaque, and canine hosts, and allows accurate monitoring of parasite load following treatment, eLife (2025). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.104547.2

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-chagas-disease.html