Biological, morphological and molecular study of three strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) isolated from Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera, Reduviidade)

• Grant number: 23/06499-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: João Aristeu da Rosa
• Grantee: Caio Geanfrancesco
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

From the moment it was described by Chagas, in 1909, this new trypanosomiasis acquired a very great medical interest, arousing the curiosity of several researchers. Considered as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is part of a group of infectious diseases which mostly affect the poorest populations directly related to human and socioeconomic factors. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America, found in 21 countries,in Brazil, between 2010 and 2020, there were 2777 new cases of acute Chagas disease (Information System of Notifiable Diseases) and according to the WHO approximately 6 to 8 million people worldwide. Chagas is transmitted by the hematophagous insect of the subfamily Triatominae, popularly known in Brazil as barber, with an etiologic agent a flagellated protozoan belonging to the order Kinetoplastida, called Trypanosoma Cruzi. This study aims to study strains isolated from the feces of nymphs and adults of Triatoma brasiliensis, ILA 1, ILA 16 and ILA 31 collected on 02/08/2023 at the Bebença farm in the district of Lajedo Alto, municipality of Iaçu, in the State of Bahia with the geographical location of 12°32'16.9''S 39°55'47.1''W. The morphometric study of epimastigote forms will be done by cultivation in LIT medium ("Liver infusion tryptose"). The morphometric study of the trypomastigote forms will be performed from forms obtained from Swiss Webster mice infected by the three strains. The molecular molecular study by PCR will be done to identify in which group the three strains are classified, among the seven of T. cruzi admitted.