title: Potential sexual transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in mice.
abstract: Infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of human Chagas disease, results in life-long infection. Infective trypomastigotes circulate in the bloodstream and have the capacity to infect any cell type, including reproductive tissue. This study sought to assess the potential for sexual transmission of T. cruzi in an experimental mouse model. The conditions used in this study, in which acutely infected males and immunosuppressing the females, created a worst-case scenario allowing for the greatest chance of measuring transmission through intercourse. Male BALB/c mice were infected and mated with uninfected females, and the females were subsequently examined for T. cruzi tissue parasitism. A single transmission event of 61 total matings was observed, indicating a low but non-zero risk potential for male-to-female sexual transmission of T. cruzi.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: hzx3@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Kory R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Tyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Roellig
authors.affiliation: AlloSource, Centennial, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zajdowicz
authors.affiliation: Community Tissue Services, Kettering, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Shawn A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: American Association of Tissue Banks, McLean, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Brubaker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000635:transmission*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D013737:Testis / Q000469:parasitology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi
keywords: Chagas disease; Sexually transmitted infection; Trypanosoma cruzi