Growth Curve, Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Two Strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) isolated from Triatoma sherlocki (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

ABSTRACT

Background:

Trypanosoma cruzi presents great variability in morphology, virulence, pathogenicity, avoidance of the host immune system, and antigenic constitution, associated with different clinical manifestations of the disease.

Methods:

Two strains of T. cruzi were cultivated in liver infusion tryptose to determine growth kinetics, morphometry and molecular characterization using restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

The biological parameters showed sharp growth by the 7^th day. Morphologically, both strains showed short and thin forms and were classified as Group I.

Conclusion:

Group TcI presents cardiac manifestations and T. sherlocki is adapting to the home environment, requiring attention to future problems.

Keywords:
Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; Epidemiology; Vector biology