枯氏锥虫是南美洲和中美洲恰加斯病的病原体。其它一些在抗原上和遗传上与之相近而被认为对人非致病的寄生虫,如Trypa-nosoma rangeli,T.cruzi marinkellei和新大陆利什曼原虫,常造成恰加斯病和利什曼病在诊断和流行病学研究上的混乱。常规应用的放射性~(82)P标记的DNA探针杂交检测方法虽然有效,但不适用于现场工作。为此,作 Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease in South and Central America. Other antigens and genetically similar parasites that are thought to be non-pathogenic to humans, such as Trypa-nosoma rangeli, T.cruzi marinkellei and Leishmania newnsis, often cause Chagas disease and Leishmania Disorders in diagnosis and epidemiology. Routine use of radioactive ~ (82) P-labeled DNA probe hybridization detection method is effective, but not suitable for field work. To do this