• G Ortega-Pierres and F J López-Antuñano.
• Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular CINVESTAV-IPN, México, D.F.
• Gac Med Mex. 1997 Jan 1; 133 Suppl 1: 496249-62.

AbstractParasite diseases such as Leishmaniases and American Trypanosomiases have been increasingly important in Mexico and other countries of the American Region. In known areas, these diseases are highly endemic, and in recently opened developing areas became a new threat to public health. Some social groups working in natural resources exploitation, agriculture, animal stock and public labor are particularly affected. The molecular epidemiology approach to these diseases is linking valuable capabilities and resources within the academic and operational institutions actual working in genetic polymorphism, strain characterization and PRC identification of Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites. Clinical and epidemiological aspects of American trypanosomiasis infections and Chagas's disease and of cutaneous, mucocutaneous, disseminated and visceral leishmaniases, as well as genetic susceptibility studies have been initiated by Mexican scientists. In order to organize and coordinate the molecular epidemiology activities and support effective prevention and control programs against these diseases, political decision from the health, and academic authorities is urgently needed to adopt and support the research strategy for typing Trypanosoma and Leishmania species through exposition and biological markers (analysis of chromosomal DNA, ribosomal genes restriction patterns, DNA sequence, and DNA plasmids); the study of the membrane proteins and isoenzymes and monoclonal antibodies; detecting antigens and nucleic acids; defining susceptibility to infection with genetic markers, and searching for species, variants and mutant strains responsible for high virulence. The support for the establishment of a Reference Center for identification, cryopreservation and registration of parasites, vectors and reservoires is of paramount importance.

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