Comparison of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs inoculated with blood or metacyclic trypomastigotes of Berenice-62 and Berenice-78 strains via intraperitoneal and conjunctival routes.
This paper aimed to verify the influence of the inoculum source (blood or metacyclic trypomastigote) and the route of inoculation (intraperitoneal or conjunctival) on the course of T. cruzi infection in dogs, using comparatively the T. cruzi strains Berenice-62 and Berenice-78. All dogs inoculated intraperitoneally became infected independently of the T. cruzi strain and source of trypomastigotes used. High level of infectivity was also observed when metacyclic trypomastigotes of both strains were inoculated by conjunctival route. However, when blood trypomastigotes were inoculated by conjunctival route the percentages of infectivity were significantly lower in dogs inoculated with both strains. Parasitaemia was significantly higher in animals infected with metacyclic trypomastigotes via the conjunctival route independently of the T. cruzi strain used. All animals infected with Berenice-78 strain showed severe acute myocarditis. On the other hand, animals infected with Berenice-62 showed severe acute myocarditis only when infected with metacyclic trypomastigote, via the intraperitoneal route. The results suggest that the source of the inoculum and the route of inoculation remarkably influence the evolution of the infection for the T. cruzi in the vertebrate host even when the same strain of the parasite is used.
Bahia
Maria Terezinha
MT
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.
Tafuri
Washington Luiz
WL
Caliari
Marcelo Vidigal
MV
Veloso
Vanja Maria
VM
Carneiro
Cláudia Martins
CM
Coelho
George Luiz Lins Machado
GL
Lana
Marta
M
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003228:Conjunctiva; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010537:Peritoneum; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*