Dados do Trabalho

Título

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

Introdução

Trypanosoma cruzi (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 T. cruzi in home dwellings located near sylvatic areas.

Objetivo (s)

To diagnose trypanosomatid infections in non-volant small mammals and bats from MOC.

Material e Métodos

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 & L18-2022). Serological tests to detect T. cruzi and Leishmania sp. IgG on the non-volant mammals were performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT).

Resultados e Conclusão

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

Palavras Chave

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