F-Organ tropism during the acute and chronic phases of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in BALB/c mice

Full text

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis.

V.18, n.1, p.34-43, 2012.

Original paper - ISSN 1678-9199.

Organ tropism during the acute and chronic phases of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in BALB/c mice

Oliveira LRC (1), Picka MCM (1), Nicolete VC (1), Calvi SA (1), Marcondes-Machado J (1)

(1) Department of Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in the heart, liver, lung, and kidneys, using hemoculture and PCR analysis, of mice infected with different parasite strains during the acute and chronic phases of infection. Parasitemia curves revealed strain-specific biological behaviors. For the Y and JLP strains, the acute phase of infection started at days six and ten post-infection, parasitemia peaked at days seven and 15 post-infection, the chronic phase started at days nine and 28 post-infection, and animals started dying at days 19 and 120 post-infection, respectively. When the two strains were compared, the JLP strain exhibited reduced and slower replication rates associated with a delayed peak of parasitism and reduced parasite burdens. However, parasites were detected in all studied organs using PCR analysis. The capacity of both strains to infect different organs likely influences disease pathogenesis.

Key words: Trypanosoma cruzi, PCR, hemoculture, organs, distribution.

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: May 23, 2011.

Accepted: October 3, 2011.

Abstract published online: October 6, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Botucatu Medical School (protocol number 706/2008).

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Larissa Ragozo Cardoso de Oliveira, Departamento de Doenças Tropicais e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Jr, s/n, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000, Brasil. Phone: +55 14 3811 6372 or +55 14 3811 6212. Email: larissaragozo@yahoo.com.br.