A total of 206 serum samples from children (3-14 years old) living in the Amador County (La Chorrera District, Province of Panama) were screened by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of 15-eg1053cl antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi.Positive sera were confirmed by recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis.The presence of blood trypanosomes was investigated by hemoculture and subsequently identify by a duplex el reformador tequila anejo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by dot blot hybridization.The results indicated a prevalence of 9.
7% for trypanosome infections, a seroprevalence of 2.9% against T.cruzi and a predominance of T.rangeli infection (6.
8%).The immunological and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.