Peru Strain Research Articles

Detection and complete genome characterization of human enterovirus 118 from children with acute respiratory disease in China

Enterovirus 118 (EV-118) within species HEV-C was detected in two 5-month-old boys with pneumonia in China. The EV-118 from both cases was genetically closer to ISR10 strain from Israel than to PER161 strain from Peru based on VP1 gene sequences. The complete genome of the detected EV-118 consists of 7,360 nucleotides, excluding the poly (A) tail. The 5′UTR contains 669 nucleotides, and 3′UTR consists of 73 nucleotides. A single open reading frame from base 670 to 7,287 that encodes a 2,206-amino-acid polyprotein was featured. The base composition of the full genome is 27.9 % A, 24.2 % C, 24.4 % G, and 23.6 % U. Phylogenetic analysis of the full genome sequences illustrated EV-118 was genetically closer to EV-109 and EV-105, and the Chinese strain differed from Peru strain. In summary, the presence of EV-118 was confirmed in pediatric pneumonia cases and complete genome sequences were identified for the first time in China.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11262-014-1044-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Differential transcription profiles in Aedes aegypti detoxification genes after temephos selection

AbstractThe mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main vector of Dengue and Yellow Fever flaviviruses. The organophosphate insecticide temephos is a larvicide that is used globally to control Ae. aegypti populations; many of which have in turn evolved resistance. Target site alteration in the acetylcholine esterase of this species has not being identified. Instead, we tracked changes in transcription of metabolic detoxification genes using the Ae. aegypti ‘Detox Chip’ microarray during five generations of temephos selection. We selected for temephos resistance in three replicates in each of six collections, five from Mexico, and one from Peru. The response to selection was tracked in terms of lethal concentrations. Uniform upregulation was seen in the epsilon class glutathione‐S‐transferase (eGST) genes in strains from Mexico prior to laboratory selection, while eGSTs in the Iquitos Peru strain became upregulated after five generations of temephos selection. While expression of many carboxyl/cholinesterase esterase (CCE) genes increased with selection, no single esterase was consistently upregulated and this same pattern was noted in the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP) genes and in other genes involved in reduction or oxidation of xenobiotics. Bioassays using glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), CCE and CYP inhibitors suggest that various CCEs instead of GSTs are the main metabolic mechanism conferring resistance to temephos. We show that temephos‐selected strains show no cross resistance to permethrin and that genes associated with temephos selection are largely independent of those selected with permethrin in a previous study.

Molecular characterization of Hawaiian Sugarcane yellow leaf virus genotypes and their phylogenetic relationship to strains from other sugarcane-growing countries

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) is the causal agent of the sugarcane disease Yellow leaf (YL), which was first reported in Hawaii. The presence of SCYLV was detected by tissue blot immunoassay and the Hawaiian sugarcane cultivars fell into susceptible cultivars (with SCYLV) and resistant cultivars (without SCYLV). RT-PCR showed recently that the resistant cultivars also contain the virus, however with a 100-fold lower virus titre than in the susceptible cultivars. SCYLV is present as whole genome (6 kb) or as two subgenomic sequences of 2.4 and 1.0 kb. Virus preparations from three Hawaiian cultivars (one resistant and two susceptible) were fully sequenced and the sequences were aligned to published, full and partial sequences. The phylograms corroborate previous findings that the so-called YLS-segment, which codes for the coat protein, shows the least genetic diversity, whereas the other sequence fragments A–D, representing the ORFs 0–5, expressed a two-fold higher diversity. The Hawaiian SCYLV-strains clustered together next to the Peru strain, apart from the BRA-strains and well apart from the REU-strains. We propose that the Hawaiian SCYLV should be considered as an independent group together with the Peru strain and known as HAW-PER. The sequences from the two susceptible cultivars had a deletion of 48 to 54 nt in ORF1, which codes for the gene silencing suppressor and a RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase. It is speculated that this deletion is important for the high proliferation rate of the virus in the susceptible plants.

Paraflagellar rod proteins administered with alum and IL-12 or recombinant adenovirus expressing IL-12 generates antigen-specific responses and protective immunity in mice against Trypanosoma cruzi

Successful vaccination of mice against an otherwise lethal challenge with the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi necessitates the induction of a strong cell mediated immune response. Previously, immunization of mice with the paraflagellar rod proteins from Trypanosoma cruzi administered subcutaneously with Freund's adjuvant has been shown to elicit an Ag-specific cellular immune response that reduces parasitemia and provides 100% survival against an otherwise lethal challenge with the parasite. Since this vaccine regimen is unacceptable for use in humans, we have tested immunization regimens using PFR Ag in combination with alum and either recombinant murine IL-12 or a replication deficient adenovirus vector expressing murine IL-12. Here, it is shown that immunization of C57BL/6 mice with PFR Ag coadsorbed to alum with either recombinant IL-12 or adenovirus-expressing IL-12 induces a strong cellular immune response that results in 100% survival and >90% reduction in parasitemia in immunized mice challenged with the bloodstream stage of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Absence of transitory [Ca2+]i flux during early in vitro metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The phorbol ester TPA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) substitutes for CO2 as an agonist for transforming Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes to the metacyclic trypomastigote stage in a starvation medium consisting of phosphate buffered saline + 10 mM proline, 10 mM sodium acetate and 0.035% NaHCO3. Since TPA is thought to stimulate protein kinase C by mimicking the activity of the secondary messenger diacylglycerol, the above result suggested that T. cruzi metacyclogenesis could be activated by a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C signal induction pathway. Accordingly, cytosolic calcium flux ([Ca2+]i) in epimastigotes, activated with 5% CO2 or TPA (10(-7) M), was measured with the Ca2+ molecular probe, fluo-3AM. In addition, [Ca2+]i was measured in cells incubated with putative metacyclogenic agonists (e.g. proline, glutamate, bioamines, ionophores and catecholamines). None of the compounds studies, except for EGTA, affected cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Control assays with 11 microM thapsigargin, which mobilizes noncytoplasmic Ca2+ stores by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, validated our fluorometric assay procedure. Although thapsigargin significantly increases cytoplasmic Ca2+ fluorescence, it has no effect on transformation. The protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine, H-7 and HA 1004 were tested for their effect on T. cruzi metacyclogenesis. Low concentrations of staurosporine and HA 1004 significantly elevated Peru strain transformation while H-7 had no effect on Peru strain metacyclogenesis. Inhibitor H-7 did significantly depress CL transformation. The results indicate that induction of T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigote formation by CO2 and TPA is not accompanied by changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and do not provide supporting evidence for participation of a protein kinase C-mediated phosphoinositide cascade in metacyclogenesis.

Nucleotide sequence and transcription of a trypomastigote surface antigen gene of Trypanosoma cruzi

In previous studies we identified a 500-bp segment of the gene, TSA-1, which encodes an 85-kDa trypomastigote-specific surface antigen of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. TSA-1 was shown to be located at a telomeric site and to contain a 27-bp tandem repeat unit within the coding region. This repeat unit defines a discrete subset of a multigene family and places the TSA-1 gene within this subset. In this study, we present the complete nucleotide sequence of the TSA-1 gene from the Peru strain. By homology matrix analysis, fragments of two other trypomastigote specific surface antigen genes, pTt34 and SA85-1.1, are shown to have extensive sequence homology with TSA-1 indicating that these genes are members of the same gene family as TSA-1. The TSA-1 subfamily was also found to be active in two other strains of T. cruzi, one of which contains multiple telomeric members and one of which contains a single non-telomeric member, suggesting that transcription is not necessarily dependent on the gene being located at a telomeric site. Also, while some of the sequences found in this gene family are present in 2 size classes of poly(A) + RNA, others appear to be restricted to only 1 of the 2 RNA classes.

Trypanosoma cruzi: Identification of a surface antigen restricted to the flagellar region of the infective form of the parasite

A hybridoma cell line was derived from spleen cells of B6D2 mice infected with the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. The monoclonal antibody produced by this hybridoma, designated mAb20H1, reacts exclusively with molecular components of trypomastigotes, the infective form of the parasite. The results of indirect immunofluorescence and of immunoelectron microscopy with gold-tagged antibodies indicate that the 20H1 antigen is restricted to the surface of the part of the flagellum in contact with the cell body and to the surface of the cell body in the immediate vicinity of this organelle. Western blot analysis showed that the 20H1 antigen consists of four to five different molecules with sizes between 34 and 41 kDa, and that these molecules are glycoproteins with affinity for concanavalin A. In other strains of T. cruzi, mAb20H1 reacts with glycoproteins with apparent sizes that range between 37 and 43 kDa in the CL, Esmeraldo and Y strains, and between 41 and 45 kDa in the Silvio strain.

Further Studies on Substrates Inducing Metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi

Epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, Peru strain, incubated in Contreras' artificial triatomine urine transformed into metacyclic trypomastigotes when 10 mM L-glutamine, L-asparagine or D-fructose was added to the medium. Metacyclogenesis with these substrates was comparable to the percent metacyclic morphotype formation induced by L-proline and significantly greater than that stimulated by 10 mM D-glucose. Sodium acetate (10 mM) increased transformation induced by L-proline, and L-hydroxyproline (10 mM) increased transformation induced by D-fructose. Phosphoenolpyruvate (10 mM) inhibited L-proline-induced metacyclic trypomastigote stage formation. Three antimetabolites, azetidine 2-carboxylate (5 mM), malonic acid (1 mM), and desthiobiotin (5 mM), completely inhibited D-fructose-induced but not L-proline-induced transformation. The Costa Rica, Y, and CL strains of T. cruzi showed different patterns of percent metacyclogenesis with substrates that induce transformation in the Peru strain.

Some Factors Inducing Formation of Metacyclic Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi

Epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, Peru strain, incubated in Contreras' artificial triatomine urine transformed into metacyclic trypomastigotes within 48 h at 28 degrees C when 10 mM L-proline or L-glutamate was added to the medium. Smaller numbers of metacyclic stages were induced in the presence of glucose or L-alanine. The L-leucine and L-isoleucine, 2 amino acids known to inhibit proline catabolism, inhibited proline-induced metacyclogenesis. Cells gassed with 5% CO2 showed significantly faster rates and higher levels of transformation than those not gassed, therefore indicating the additional importance of CO2 for transformation.

Stage and strain specific expression of the tandemly repeated 90 kDa surface antigen gene family in Trypanosoma cruzi

A recombinant cDNA library constructed in the expression vector λgt11 using mRNA from the trypomastigote stage of Trypanosoma cruzi was screened with two monoclonal antibodies that have been shown to react with a 105 kDa and a 90 kDa surface antigen in trypomastigotes of the Peru and Y strains of T. cruzi. One recombinant λ phage, designated Tcc-20, was reactive to both monoclonals. The β-galactosidase/ T. cruzi hybrid protein encoded in Tcc-20 is recognized by the monoclonal antibodies and by serum antibodies from mice infected with strains of T. cruzi which contain the 90 kDa antigen. Antibodies immunoselected from serum of mice infected with the Peru strain by adsorption to Tcc-20 fusion protein react specifically with a 90 kDa polypeptide in trypomastigote but not epimastigote lysates of T. cruzi. The mRNA complementary to the DNA insert in Tcc-20 is present only in those stages and strains of T. cruzi which express the 90 kDa surface antigen. These characteristics are strong evidence that the T. cruzi DNA fragment cloned into Tcc-20 encodes a portion of the 90 kDa surface antigen. The gene(s) which encodes this polypeptide is shown to be present in approximately 20 copies per haploid genome and most, and possibly all, of the copies are found in a tandemly linked multigene family.

The genome of Trypanosoma cruzi contains a constitutively expressed, tandemly arranged multicopy gene homologous to a major heat shock protein.

cDNA libraries have been constructed in the plasmid vector pUC18 with mRNA isolated from both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Pools of randomly selected clones were analyzed by hybridization-selection-translation. Translation products were immunoprecipitated either with normal human sera or with sera from patients with Chagas' disease (chagasic sera), and the immunoprecipitates were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. With this approach, a cDNA clone (pEC5) was identified which encodes a portion of an 85,000-Mr polypeptide. A genomic clone was subsequently isolated (FG1) by using oligonucleotide probes derived from the DNA sequence of this cDNA clone. A portion of this clone was isolated and sequenced, and the coding region for the protein was identified. Computer analysis of the predicted protein sequence indicates that this protein is closely related to the 83,000-Mr heat shock protein (hsp83) of Drosophila melanogaster, the hsp90 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the hsp90 of chicken. This gene is tandemly organized in the T. cruzi genome as a cluster of 6 to 10 copies.

The genome of Trypanosoma cruzi contains a constitutively expressed, tandemly arranged multicopy gene homologous to a major heat shock protein.

cDNA libraries have been constructed in the plasmid vector pUC18 with mRNA isolated from both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Pools of randomly selected clones were analyzed by hybridization-selection-translation. Translation products were immunoprecipitated either with normal human sera or with sera from patients with Chagas' disease (chagasic sera), and the immunoprecipitates were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. With this approach, a cDNA clone (pEC5) was identified which encodes a portion of an 85,000-Mr polypeptide. A genomic clone was subsequently isolated (FG1) by using oligonucleotide probes derived from the DNA sequence of this cDNA clone. A portion of this clone was isolated and sequenced, and the coding region for the protein was identified. Computer analysis of the predicted protein sequence indicates that this protein is closely related to the 83,000-Mr heat shock protein (hsp83) of Drosophila melanogaster, the hsp90 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the hsp90 of chicken. This gene is tandemly organized in the T. cruzi genome as a cluster of 6 to 10 copies.

Trypanosoma cruzi adenine nucleoside phosphorylase: Purification and substrate specificity

An adenine nucleoside phosphorylase has been partially purified from extracts of epimastigotes of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. The purification procedure separated this enzyme from the three other nucleoside-cleaving enzymes found in extracts. The adenine nucleoside phosphorylase, which efficiently cleaved 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), had a particle weight of 68,000 and exhibited a broad pH optimum between pH 6 and 8. In addition to MTA, the purified enzyme cleaved and synthesized adenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine with high efficiency. This contrasts to the enzyme from S-180 cells which has been reported to cleave adenosine poorly and not to cleave 2'-deoxyadenosine. Several observations suggested that the three substrates, MTA, adenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine, use a common catalytic site: (a) all served as alternate-substrate inhibitors exhibiting mutually competitive inhibition with K i values equivalent to their respective K m values, (b) 5'-chlorofonnycin A exhibited a competitive K i , value of 4 μM with each nucleoside substrate, and (c) the K m , value of phosphate derived from initial velocity studies (180 ± 20 μM) was independent of the nucleoside substrate. Substrate specificity studies in both the synthesis and cleavage direction indicated that the enzyme had a broad specificity for bases and nucleosides. For the synthesis of nucleosides, the enzyme demonstrated a preference for an amino group in the position equivalent to the 6 position of purine. Compounds containing a hydroxyl group in this position were not substrates. Although a hydrogen or methyl group could substitute for a 6-amino group, a marked decrease in substrate efficiency was observed with these compounds. Alterations in the purine ring led to decreases in the maximal velocity values as evidenced by the substrate or non-substrate properties of 1-, 3-, and 7-deazaadenine and 4-anunopyrazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidine. The K m values for 5-methylthioribose 1-phosphate, ribose 1-phosphate and 2'-deoxyribose 1-phosphate with adenine serving as acceptor were 21, 150 and 370 μM. For nucleoside cleavage, the T. cruzi enzyme catalyzed the phosphorolysis of a variety of 5'-substituted adenine-containing nucleosides including those possessing 5'-hydrogen-, hydroxyl-, halogeno-, alkylthio-, amino- and azido-moieties. Inclusion of an ionized group in the 5'-position, such as 5'-carboxy-5'-deoxyadenosine or AMP, precluded substrate activity. 3'-Deoxy adenosine, arabinosyladenine and α-adenosine did not serve as substrates. These findings indicate that the adenine nucleoside phosphorylase from T. cruzi differs from its mammalian counterpart and that this enzyme should be considered as a potential target for selective chemotherapeutic attack against this pathogenic protozoan.

Variation in antigenic determinants specific to the infective stage of Trypanosoma cruzi

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with the surface antigens of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi were analyzed by Western blots and immunofluorescence assays to determine their reactivity with three life cycle stages and five strain isolates of T. cruzi. One monoclonal antibody, 7.6, recognized a 68-kilodalton (kDa) polypeptide in Western blots of Peru strain trypomastigotes, epimastigotes, and amastigotes. A 68-kDa polypeptide was also detected by monoclonal antibody 7.6 in trypomastigotes of the CL and Y strains and in the clonal isolates Esmeraldo clone 3 and Silvio X10 clone 1. Positive immunofluorescence results were obtained for all life cycle stages of the five strains that were reacted with monoclonal antibody 7.6, thus indicating that the antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody 7.6 is universally present in all T. cruzi strains tested. In contrast, monoclonal antibody 4.2 reacted with a polypeptide doublet of 90 and 105 kDa in Western blots of Peru strain trypomastigotes, but it did not detect these antigens in epimastigotes or amastigotes. The same polypeptide doublet of 90 and 105 kDa was also detected in Western blots of Y strain trypomastigotes; however, no bands were detected in blots of strain CL or isolate Silvio X10 clone 1 trypomastigotes. In blots of Esmeraldo clone 3 trypomastigotes, a single band of 130 kDa was detected by monoclonal antibody 4.2. In immunofluorescence assays of monoclonal antibody 4.2, positive reactions were obtained only with trypomastigotes of Peru, Y, and Esmeraldo clone 3 strains. Thus, monoclonal antibody 4.2 recognizes a trypomastigote-specific antigen which is not universally present on all strains of T. cruzi.

A Mr 90 000 surface polypeptide of Trypanosoma cruzi as a candidate for a Chagas' disease diagnostic antigen

Trypanosoma cruzi (Peru strain) trypomastigotes and epimastigotes were biosynthetically labeled with [ 35S]methionine, and the proteins were analyzed by two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). 2D-PAGE analysis of the trypomastigotes showed a complex array of polypeptides with distinct clusters at M r 88 000–92 000, isoelectric point (p I) 5.6–6.0, and M r 72 000–76 000, p I 5.6–5.8. 2D-PAGE analysis of the epimastigotes did not show the cluster of polypeptides at M r 90 000. When the trypomastigote lysate was reacted with sera from either mice or humans chronically infected with T. cruzi, 10–50 polypeptides were immunoprecipitated. Five of these polypeptides were recognized by all sera tested. However, of these polypeptides, only three, two of M r 90 000 and one of M r 150 000, can be identified by immunoreaction of [ 35S]methionine-labeled live parasites as surface proteins of T. cruzi trypomastigotes. 125I-iminobiotinylated surface proteins isolated from T. cruzi trypomastigotes were immunoprecipitated with the same series of sera as described above. Chagasic sera immunoprecipitated an antigen of M r 90 000. The [ 35S]methionine and 125I-labeled M r 90 000 polypeptides were not immunoprecipitated with sera from individuals infected with Leishmania donovani, Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania tropica or Leishmania mexicana. These data indicate that a surface polypeptide of M r 90 000, p I 5.8–5.9 is a viable candidate for a Chagas' disease diagnostic antigen.

Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rhesus monkeys III. Electrocardiographic and histopathological findings

In five rhesus monkeys surviving ‘Peru strain’ or ‘strain 7’ Trypanosoma cruzi infection for six to eight years, positive xenodiagnosis results and high indirect fluorescent antibody titres (4096 — 65536) persisted until the animals were killed. Abnormal electrocardiograph patterns in two monkeys (H and K) were possibly compatible with myocardial damage. Histopathological changes attributable to T. cruzi infection were minor in four monkeys but severe in one (R). In this animal, infected with what was judged previously to be the less virulent of the two T. cruzi stocks used (‘strain 7’), there was severe myocarditis, with myofibre degeneration, and lesions of the oesophagus. Elevated serum levels of five enzymes were not detected in any of the chronically infected monkeys.

Comparative xenodiagnosis with three triatomine species of different hosts with natural and experimental chronic infections with Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi

Simultaneous xenodiagnosis was made of 29 patients with chronic Chagas's disease, six naturally infected opossums ( Didelphis azarae) and of a Rhesus monkey with an experimental chronic infection with Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi (Peru strain). Patients and opossums were from an endemic area in the state of Bahia, Brazil, where Panstrongylus megistus is the sole domiciliary vector of the disease to man. Various instars of P. megistus Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus were used. The proportion of bugs infected was compared with bloodmeal intake by a computer programme using linear logistic analysis. The analysis showed that there are intrinsic interspecific differences in susceptibility to infection with Trypanosoma cruzi between the three triatomine species used and that subsequent infection of bugs with T. cruzi is correlated with the quantity of blood ingested. The results show that interspecific differences of bloodmeal size and intrinsic differences in susceptibility to T. cruzi between triatomine species are limiting factors for the standardization and interpretation of the results of xenodiagnosis.

The infectivity of single flagellates of Trypanosoma cruzi

Single organisms of Trypanosoma cruzi of the virulent Peru strain were isolated by direct visualisation and were injected peritoneally into CFI mice. Single trypanomastigotes of different morphology and from different sources (mouse blood, in vitro cufture and bug faeces) were used. Single trypanomastigotes from mouse blood caused parasitaemia and fataiity in a high percentage of mice. This was true irrespective of the morphology (broad or narrow form) of the trypano mastigo tec. Single organisms of the culture forms were also capable of causing infection, although these were less infectious than single trypanomastigotes obtained from mouse blood or the reduviid bug. The difficulties attendant on the performance of the cloning technique are discussed and some indication is given of how these problems can be overcome.

Genetic Studies on the Mechanism of Action of Aldosterone in Mice1

Aldosterone reduced the urinary sodium:creatinine ratio and increased the potassium:creatinine ratio in a CBA strain of mice. In the Peru strain, under the same conditions, aldosterone had no detectable effect on the sodium:creatinine ratio but had an even more marked effect on the potassium:creatinine ratio. Thus, the effect of aldosterone on potassium excretion is separable from and is not simply a secondary consequence of the effect on sodium retention. Specific binding of 3H-aldosterone to kidney was reduced in Peru mice compared to CBA. However the correlation between 3H-aldosterone binding and physiological effect of the hormone on sodium excretion disappeared totally in a second generation cross between the strains. A possible explanation is that the nuclear binding of 3H-aldosterone as measured here was heterogeneous. In this same second generation cross, the ratio of bound nuclear 3H-aldosterone extracted by low-ionic strength Tris, to the residue of nuclear 3H-aldosterone resistant to extraction by 0.4M KCl, was strongly correlated to the ratio of the effect of aldosterone on potassium excretion to that on sodium excretion. Thus in these experiments the type of nuclear binding was correlated to the type of physiological effect. These results imply that the specific binding of aldosterone to renal tissue was, in some way at least, related to the mechanism of action of the hormone; and that the heterogeneity of this binding had functional significance in terms of the separable effects of aldosterone on renal sodium retention and potassium excretion in these two strains of mice.

A comparison of Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus in the xenodiagnosis of a chronic Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi infection in a rhesus monkey ( Macaca mullatta)

Fifth instar Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus were fed on a rhesus monkey ( Macaco, mullatta) with a chronic infection of Peru strain Trypanosoma cruzi and examined 30 days later for the presence of trypanosomes in the rectum. No correlation could be demonstrated between either blood meal size or sex and the subsequent development of a rectal infection with T. cruzi. As T. infestans and P. megistus were more highly infected than R. prolixus in terms of both percentage infected and degree of infection, the two former species can be regarded as more suitable for the xenodiagnosis of this particular strain of T. cruzi in M. mullatta.