The Trypanosomatidae family is composed by protozoan parasites
responsible for causing a variety of human and non-human diseases, of varying
gravities, in both new and old worlds. The distribution and adaptation of the
trypanosomatids in tropical and subtropical countries, as well as the usual habitats of
vectors commonly favour contamination of poor neglected populations, despite the
increasing expansion to peri-urban and urban areas, thus reaching other social and
economic realities. Illnesses like leishmaniasis and American trypanosomiasis (or
Chagas disease) share the fact that both have a great diversity of reservoirs associated
to the cycle of the parasites, which include synanthropic mammalians and the Homo
sapiens itself. Therefore, to an efficient epidemiological control, the continuous search
for new human cases, as well as the monitoring and controlling of infected animals is
fundamental. The laboratorial techniques routinely used for detection of these diseases
may vary from simple parasitological analysis to cutting-edge molecular technology.
Due to its easiness and diagnostic sensitivity, the immunology/serology is broadly
applied in the laboratories and also in field, even with its limitations. The molecular
biology and its tools are emerging as sensitive and specific alternative strategies for the
trypanosomiasis diagnosis, but some challenges still remain, especially concerning the
standardization of protocols and the establishment of gold-standard procedures. New
serological and molecular methods arise annually aiming to overlap deficiencies that
may reduce the feasibility for applying in routine and in epidemiological researches. In
this chapter, the past and current diagnostic situation of leishmaniases, Chagas disease
and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or “sleeping sickness” will be described,
highlighting the technological advances and the difficulties to be faced for the next
years, mainly regarding the applicability for public health.
Keywords: African trypanosomiasis, American trypanosomiasis, Diagnosis,
Leishmaniases.
