TcI/TcII co-infection can enhance Trypanosoma cruzi growth in Rhodnius prolixus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rhodnius prolixus is an obligate haematophagous insect and one of the most important vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease in the Americas. T. cruzi is a highly variable parasite which is not transmitted in the same efficiency by the different triatomine vectors. Because different T. cruzi genotypes are aetiopathologically divergent, further elucidation of the transmission abilities of different Chagas disease vectors is extremely important.

Findings

In the present study, the growth behaviour of two T. cruzi isolates, MDID/BR/1993/C45 (TcI) and TBRA/BR/1999/JCA3 (TcII), sharing the same microhabitat (intestinal tract) in single and mixed infections, was examined. The distribution patterns and parasite population densities were evaluat

SUBMITTER: Araujo CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4015778 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature