Specific primers design based on the superoxide dismutase b gene for Trypanosoma cruzi as a screening tool:Validation method using strains from Colombia classified according to their discrete typing unit

Objective:To classify 21 new isolates of Trypanosoma cruai(T.cruzi) according to the Discrete Typing Unit(DTU) which they belong to,as well as tune up a new pair of primers designed to detect the parasite in biological samples.Methods:Strains were isolated,DNA extracted,and classified by using three Polymerase Chain Reactions(PCR).Subsequently this DNA was used along with other isolates of various biological samples,for a new PCR using primers designed.Finally,the amplified fragments were sequenced.Results:It was observed the predominance of DTU i in Colombia,as well as the specificity of our primers for detection of T.cruzi,while no band was obtained when other species were used.Conclusions:This work reveals the genetic variability of 21 new isolates of T.cruzi in Colombia.Our primers confirmed their specificity for detecting the presence of T.cruzi.