Xenodiagnosis for Chagas disease

France, CHU Rennes Parasitologie-Mycologie

Xenodiagnosis is used for Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) and for other illnesses. The test is awkward to carry out, since a vector strain should be maintained in the laboratory. The principle of the test relies upon bug’s feeding on a given patient, followed by search for Trypanosoma in the insect.