One hundred and sixteen opossums captured in Bambui, MG State, had an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to detect circulating Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies. Forty-four of them (37.9%) reacted to T. cruzi, showing, titres rangingfrom 1:10 to 1:320. Theparasite was demonstrated by parasitological examinations in 43 (97.7%) of these opossums. The IFAT presented co-positivity (97.7%) co-negativity (98.6%) and agreement (98.3%) rates when compared to xenodiagnosis and hemoculture. Considering the dilution 1:20 to discriminate reactions from the nonreactive ones, the IFAT is indicated as a diagnostic method, opossums. The IFAT on dry filter paper presented low rates of co-positivity (78.2%), agreement (76.0%) and consistent disagreement related to the non-reactive results.
Trypanosoma cruzi; Opossums Serological diagnosis; Indirect fluorescent antibody test