Trypanosomes of the subgenus Megatrypanum from armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae)

Abstract

A new species of trypanosome, Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) peba, is described from the peripheral blood of the armadillo Euphractus sexcinctus setosus from Bahia State, Brazil. Ten out of 29 specimens of the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus from Pará State were found to have trypanosomes, including epimastigote forms, in impression smears of subcutaneous lymph nodes. The trypanosomes from D. novemcinctus are illustrated and were identified as belonging to the subgenus Megatrypanum on the basis of their general appearance, although they failed to multiply in blood-agar culture medium and no bloodstream forms were seen. This is the first published record of trypanosomes of this subgenus from armadillos and the first demonstration of epimastigote trypanosomes in the mammalian host other than in the bloodstream, or in the anal glands of opossums.

Animal Trypanosomiasis in South America: Current Status, Partnership, and Information Technology

“…11 In the state of São Paulo, Brazil, the prevalence was 40.6% and 30% for buffaloes and cattle, respectively, as determined by culturing blood samples; however, all results were negative on microscopic examination. 12 Other members of this subgenus are: T. ingens , recently described in Suriname 13; T. mazamarum 1; T. minasense , which has been found in squirrel monkeys from the Brazilian Amazon 14; T. peba , described in armadillos from Brazil 15; T. freitasi in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis 16,17; T. rochasilvai , found parasitizing a small rodent ( Oryzomys laticeps ) from the state of São Paulo, Brazil 18; and T. melophagium , infecting ovines from the state of Minas Gerais. 19…”

Trypanosoma(Megatrypanum)lainsonin. sp. fromMesomys hispidus(Rodentia: Echimyidae) in Brazil: trypomastigotes described from experimentally infected laboratory mice

“…( Megatrypanum ) species were observed in lymphoid tissues of the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus [1], but our Figure 1 of T . lainsoni is probably the first record of the epimastigote stage of a T. (Megatrypanum) species, other than that of T .…”

Zoonotic parasites infecting free‐living armadillos from Brazil

“…After that, Yaeger (1988) and Forrester (1992) described significant prevalence of T. cruzi for D. novemcinctus in the United States. In Brazil, this armadillo species is also considered a potential reservoir of T. cruzi and several studies reported infected individuals (Barrett & Naiff, 1990; Herrera et al., 2004; Roque et al, 2009). Few studies have been conducted focusing on T. cruzi in other wild armadillo species, but there have been records of individuals of , Chaetophractus villosus, Chaetophractus vellerosus, Tolypeutes matacus, E. sexcinctus and C. unicinctus exposed to T. cruzi (Cardona‐Castro et al., 2009; Noireau et al., 2009; Orozco et al., 2013; Telleria & Tibayrenc, 2010; Yeo et al., 2005).…”