Chagas disease is a dangerous tropical illness caused by single-cell parasites known as Trypanosoma cruzi. In most cases, if not treated immediately, the infection becomes chronic: the immune system of the host greatly reduces the number of parasites present in the body yet fails to fully eradicate them. Current diagnostic approaches often fail to detect these low numbers of parasites.

A research team from the University of Georgia and others aimed to develop a test for cure.

Joining me today is Rick Tarleton, PhD. Dr Tarleton ia a Regents' Professor at the University of Georgia and a Distinguished Professor in Biological Sciences in the Department of Cellular Biology.

Serial 'deep-sampling' PCR of fragmented DNA reveals the wide range of Trypanosoma cruzi burden among chronically infected human, macaque, and canine hosts, and allows accurate monitoring of parasite load following treatment