Dados do Trabalho

Título

TRYPANOSOMA SPP. INFECTIONS AMONG WILD MAMMALS FROM MONTES CLAROS/MG, AN ANCIENT ENDEMIC AREA OF CHAGAS DISEASE.

Introdução

<p><em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em> (Protozoa; Trypanosomatida), the etiological agent of Chagas disease, infects a wide range of vertebrates. Montes Claros/MG (MOC) municipality has reported the presence of triatomines infected with <em>T. cruzi</em> in home dwellings located near sylvatic areas.</p>

Objetivo (s)

<p>To diagnose trypanosomatid infections in non-volant small mammals and bats from MOC.</p>

Material e Métodos

<p>Overall, 49 non-volant mammals and 20 bats were collected in June 2022. Blood was collected for culture (all mammals) and 18S Nested-PCR of blood clots from non-volant mammals (n= 44) and bats (n=6), followed by sequence analysis for species characterization. In addition, culture and PCR of tissue samples (skin, spleen and liver) were performed for all animals (SISBIO 13373-1, CEUA L-50-2016A4 &amp; L18-2022). Serological tests to detect <em>T. cruzi</em> and <em>Leishmania</em> sp. IgG on the non-volant mammals were performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT).</p>

Resultados e Conclusão

<p>Eight (16%) terrestrial mammals were positive in hemocultures by: <em>T. cruzi</em> TcI (n= 3), T<em>. rangeli</em> (n= 1) and one mixed infection of <em>T. cruzi</em> TcI/<em>T. dionisii</em> from five&nbsp;<em>Didelphis albiventris</em>, and <em>T. lainsoni</em> from three&nbsp;<em>Cerradomys vivoi</em>. From these, it was possible to obtain three parasite isolates: <em>T. cruzi</em> TcI (n= 2) and <em>T. dionisii</em> (n= 1). Other nine (18%) individuals were positive only in PCR of blood clots and/or tissues by: <em>T. cruzi</em> TcI (n= 2) in&nbsp;<em>D. albiventris</em> (blood clot) and <em>Mus musculus</em> (spleen); <em>T. lainsoni</em> (n= 5) in three&nbsp;<em>D. albiventris</em> (spleen, liver and blood clot), one&nbsp;<em>Marmosops incanus</em> (liver) and one&nbsp;<em>Monodelphis domestica</em> (blood clot); <em>T. dionisii</em> and <em>T. minasense</em> in one <em>M. musculus</em> (liver) and one <em>Callithryx penicillata</em> (spleen and liver), respectively. Apart from four opossums (24%) positive to <em>T. cruzi</em> on both PCR and IFAT, other eleven terrestrial mammals were seropositive for <em>T. cruzi</em> infection (33% total infection rate). Seven bats (35%) were infected by trypanosomatids: two in hemoculture (<em>T. dionisii</em>), three only in tissue PCR: <em>T. lainsoni</em> in skin and liver (n= 1 each), and <em>T.</em> sp Neobat 4 in spleen (n= 1). And two in both, characterized as mixed infections by <em>T. lainsoni</em> (spleen and liver) with T. <em>c. marinkellei</em> and <em>T. dionisii</em> in hemocultures (n=1 each).&nbsp;These data indicate a huge diverse of trypanosomatid species infecting the wild fauna from an anthropized area of MOC and highlight the maintenance of <em>T. cruzi</em> infection among synanthropic animals, mainly opossums, and the presence of <em>T. lainsoni</em> infections in marsupials, rodents and bats.</p>

Palavras Chave

Trypanosoma diversity; mammalian hosts; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma lainsoni; mixed infection; Minas Gerais