Hidden life cycle stages of the trypanosomatid Blastocrithidia triatomae Cerisola et al. 1971 (Protista: Excavata: Kinetoplastea) unveiled by a new cultivation method

Abstract

Blastocrithidia triatomae is a monoxenic trypanosomatid parasite of triatomines, sharing the same insect vectors with Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 and T. rangeli Tejera, 1920. It is known to cause a complex syndrome in insects which induces severe metabolic disorders and increasing in mortality rates. In the present study, we established an efficient serial axenic cultivation method for B. triatomae using a new medium, herein called MBT, which revealed previously unknown morphotypes, named microepimastigotes and sinemastigotes, not found in specific cell linage cultures. The results improve the knowledge on the life cycle of genus Blastocrithidia Laird 1959, its distinction from other trypanosomatids, such as T. cruzi and T. rangeli, and settle new ground for thorough exploration of morphological features and its application for trypanosomatid systematics.