Diagnosis of Chagasic Encephalitis by Sequencing of 28S rRNA Gene

Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Jul;25(7):1370-1372. doi: 10.3201/eid2507.180285.

Abstract

We report a case of chagasic encephalitis diagnosed by 28S rRNA sequencing. The diagnosis of chagasic encephalitis is challenging, given the broad differential diagnosis for central nervous system lesions in immunocompromised patients and low sensitivity of traditional diagnostics. Sequencing should be part of the diagnostic armamentarium for potential chagasic encephalitis.

Keywords: 28S rRNA gene; Chagas disease; HIV/AIDS and other retroviruses; Trypanosoma cruzi; chagasic encephalitis; immunocompromised; meningitis/encephalitis; parasites; protozoa; rRNA sequencing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chagas Disease / diagnosis*
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Image-Guided Biopsy
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Infectious Encephalitis / diagnosis*
  • Infectious Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Infectious Encephalitis / parasitology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trypanocidal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / classification
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S
  • Trypanocidal Agents