<i>Crithidia fasciculata</i> Shows Non-Pathogenic Behavior in Leishmania Co-Infection Related to Temperature Stress, In Vitro and In Vivo Infections, and Amphotericin B Susceptibility.

ABSTRACT: There is increasing evidence on the occurrence of Crithidia spp. in patients presenting either cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, solely or associated with Leishmania. We analyzed growth, morphology, and temperature tolerance of two C. fasciculata strains, the reference strain COLPROT048 and patient isolate COLPROT606. We also evaluated their co-cultivation with L. braziliensis, macrophage infectivity, and infections in hamsters, BALB/c mice, and sandflies. In culture, both Crithidia strains survived at 32 °C for 96 h, showing major morphological alterations and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, with ΔΨm reducing to 52% in COLPROT606. At 34 °C, the patient isolate showed an 80% reduction in cell number. Mixed cultivation of Crithidia-Leishm

SUBMITTER: Santos JFBD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12566015 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature