Title
Biosensors to diagnose Chagas disease: A brief review
Date Issued
15 November 2017
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Rocha-Gaso M.I.
Villarreal-Gómez L.J.
Beyssen D.
Sarry F.
Reyna M.A.
Cinvestav Unidad Mérida
Publisher(s)
MDPI AG
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), which mostly affects those living in deprived areas, has become one of Latin America’s main public health problems. Effective prevention of the disease requires early diagnosis, initiation of therapy, and regular blood monitoring of the infected individual. However, the majority of the Trypanosoma cruzi infections go undiagnosed because of mild symptoms, limited access to medical attention and to a high variability in the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. Consequently, more affordable and accessible detection technologies capable of providing early diagnosis and T. cruzi load measurements in settings where CD is most prevalent are needed to enable enhanced intervention strategies. This work analyzes the potential contribution of biosensing technologies, reviewing examples that have been tested and contrasted with traditional methods, both serological and parasitological (i.e., molecular detection by PCR), and discusses some emerging biosensing technologies that have been applied for this public health issue. Even if biosensing technologies still require further research efforts to develop portable systems, we arrive at the conclusion that biosensors could improve the accuracy of CD diagnosis and the follow-up of patients’ treatments in terms of the rapidity of results, small sample volume, high integration, ease of use, real-time and low cost detection when compared with current conventional technologies.
Volume
17
Issue
11
Number
2629
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Medicina general, Medicina interna
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85034863965
PubMed ID
Source
Sensors (Switzerland)
ISSN of the container
14248220
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus