Trypanosoma lambrechti n. sp. aislado de micos (cebus albifrons) de colombia

En un estudio en sangre de micos colombianos, pertenecientes a 13 especies diferentes, 3 de 12 Cebus albifrons hospedaban en su sangre periférica un número muy bajo de Trypanosoma lambrechti n. sp.  La longitud promedio del tripanosoma, incluyendo la porción libre del fIagelo, es 34.9 micrones (30.1 - 43.2 micrones). EI cinetoplasto submarginal es muy pequeño y se sitúa en la cercanía del núcleo. EI núcleo es pequeño, oval o en forma de banda y ocupa la mayor parte de la anchura del cuerpo. Existe una zona clara anterior del núcleo. La parte anterior del cuerpo se colorea más intensamente que la parte posterior.  EI tripanosoma no infecta al Rhodnius prolixus, pero se multiplica facilmente en medio difásico de agar-sangre. Se da una tabla de diferenciación entre el nuevo tripanosoma y el polimorfo T. conorrhini.En un estudio en sangre de micos colombianos, pertenecientes a 13 especies diferentes, 3 de 12 Cebus albifrons hospedaban en su sangre periférica un número muy bajo de Trypanosoma lambrechti n. sp.  La longitud promedio del tripanosoma, incluyendo la porción libre del fIagelo, es 34.9 micrones (30.1 - 43.2 micrones). EI cinetoplasto submarginal es muy pequeño y se sitúa en la cercanía del núcleo. EI núcleo es pequeño, oval o en forma de banda y ocupa la mayor parte de la anchura del cuerpo. Existe una zona clara anterior del núcleo. La parte anterior del cuerpo se colorea más intensamente que la parte posterior.  EI tripanosoma no infecta al Rhodnius prolixus, pero se multiplica facilmente en medio difásico de agar-sangre. Se da una tabla de diferenciación entre el nuevo tripanosoma y el polimorfo T. conorrhini

Phylogenetic Analysis of Bolivian Bat Trypanosomes of the Subgenus Schizotrypanum Based on Cytochrome b Sequence and Minicircle Analyses

The aim of this study was to establish the phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes present in blood samples of Bolivian Carollia bats. Eighteen cloned stocks were isolated from 115 bats belonging to Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) from three Amazonian areas of the Chapare Province of Bolivia and studied by xenodiagnosis using the vectors Rhodnius robustus and Triatoma infestans (Trypanosoma cruzi marenkellei) or haemoculture (Trypanosoma dionisii). The PCR DNA amplified was analyzed by nucleotide sequences of maxicircles encoding cytochrome b and by means of the molecular size of hyper variable regions of minicircles. Ten samples were classified as Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei and 8 samples as Trypanosoma dionisii. The two species have a different molecular size profile with respect to the amplified regions of minicircles and also with respect to Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli used for comparative purpose. We conclude the presence of two species of bat trypanosomes in these samples, which can clearly be identified by the methods used in this study. The presence of these trypanosomes in Amazonian bats is discussed

Chagas Cardiomyopathy Manifestations and Trypanosoma cruzi Genotypes Circulating in Chronic Chagasic Patients

Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a complex disease that is endemic and an important problem in public health in Latin America. The T. cruzi parasite is classified into six discrete taxonomic units (DTUs) based on the recently proposed nomenclature (TcI, TcII, TcIII, TcIV, TcV and TcVI). The discovery of genetic variability within TcI showed the presence of five genotypes (Ia, Ib, Ic, Id and Ie) related to the transmission cycle of Chagas disease. In Colombia, TcI is more prevalent but TcII has also been reported, as has mixed infection by both TcI and TcII in the same Chagasic patient. The objectives of this study were to determine the T. cruzi DTUs that are circulating in Colombian chronic Chagasic patients and to obtain more information about the molecular epidemiology of Chagas disease in Colombia. We also assessed the presence of electrocardiographic, radiologic and echocardiographic abnormalities with the purpose of correlating T. cruzi genetic variability and cardiac disease. Molecular characterization was performed in Colombian adult chronic Chagasic patients based on the intergenic region of the mini-exon gene, the 24Sα and 18S regions of rDNA and the variable region of satellite DNA, whereby the presence of T.cruzi I, II, III and IV was detected. In our population, mixed infections also occurred, with TcI-TcII, TcI-TcIII and TcI-TcIV, as well as the existence of the TcI genotypes showing the presence of genotypes Ia and Id. Patients infected with TcI demonstrated a higher prevalence of cardiac alterations than those infected with TcII. These results corroborate the predominance of TcI in Colombia and show the first report of TcIII and TcIV in Colombian Chagasic patients. Findings also indicate that Chagas cardiomyopathy manifestations are more correlated with TcI than with TcII in Colombia