Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: Francielle Pulcinelli Martins

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : Francielle Pulcinelli Martins
DATE: 26/09/2022
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Plataforma Teams
TITLE:

Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in patients with psoriasis using ; immunosuppressive drugs

KEY WORDS:

Chagas disease; immunosuppressive drugs; psoriasis

PAGES: 30
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Medicina
SUMMARY:

Abstract: Chagas disease is an infection caused by the etiologic agent
Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans and other mammals through
the feces of hematophagous insects belonging to the Triatominae subfamily. It is estimated
that about 8 million people are infected with this parasite worldwide, while in Brazil, it is
estimated that about 2 to 3 million people live with the disease. T. cruzi infection is
usually contained by an immune response but it is rarely eliminated, resulting in chronic
infection with low levels of circulating parasites. Conventionally, serological tests
include immunofluorescence assays (IF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays
(ELISA), and hemagglutination assays (HA). The World Health Organization (WHO)

recommends that the diagnosis of an individual use two conventional tests based on
different principles for the detection of different antigens. In case of ambiguous or
discordant results, a third technique should be used. There are reports of discrepancies
between serological tests, even between the same tests. In face of this difficulty, the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test has proven to be a promising option. In addition,
patients with a marked degree of immunosuppression may have their antibody
production impaired. This may interfere with the results of available antigen-antibody
based tests. JUSTIFICATION: Reactivation of Chagas disease has been frequently
described in the literature in case reports in which there is impairment of immunity and
disruption of the tenuous balance between host and parasites present in the
indeterminate phase of the disease. Currently available diagnostic methods (serologies)
may not be effective in detecting the reactivation of the infection. Drugs such as
cyclosporine, azathioprine, corticosteroids, and immunobiologicals frequently used by
psoriasis patients may interfere with the production of part or all of the IgG antibodies.
Therefore, they will not be detected by serological methods. In these cases, polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) may be an alternative in the detection of infection in
immunosuppressed patients, as it has greater diagnostic accuracy and it directly
identifies the parasite´s DNA and not the host´s immune response. OBJECTIVES: To
identify Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in the blood of psoriasis patients on
immunosuppressive maintenance therapy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of
screening for Chagas disease in patients treated at the Hospital Universitário de Brasília
- HUB. RESULTS: Preliminary data: Samples from 180 patients taking some kind of
immunosuppressive drugs were sent for testing using the Indirect Immunofluorescence
(IFI) technique for Chagas disease screening: 14 samples were positive for Chagas
disease, corresponding to 8.04% of patients; 160 samples were negative for Chagas
disease; 6 samples were not tested (due to technical problems).

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - ANTÔNIO CARLOS XIMENES - UFG
Externa à Instituição - Aline Garcia Islabão - HCB
Presidente - 1286342 - LAILA SALMEN ESPINDOLA
Interna - 2446211 - NADJAR NITZ SILVA LOCIKS DE ARAUJO