Persistent biofluid small molecule alterations induced byTrypanosoma cruziinfection are not restored by antiparasitic treatment

Abstract

Chagas Disease (CD), caused byTrypanosoma cruzi(T. cruzi) protozoa, is a complicated parasitic illness with inadequate medical measures for diagnosing infection and monitoring treatment success. To address this gap, we analyzed changes in the metabolome ofT. cruzi-infected mice via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of clinically-accessible biofluids: saliva, urine, and plasma. Urine was the most indicative of infection status, across mouse and parasite genotypes. Metabolites perturbed by infection in the urine include kynurenate, acylcarnitines, and threonylcarbamoyladenosine. Based on these results, we sought to implement urine as a tool for assessment of CD treatment success. Strikingly, it was found that mice with parasite clearance following benznidazole antiparasitic treatment had comparable overall urine metabolome to mice that failed to clear parasites. These results match with clinical trial data in which benznidazole treatment did not improve patient outcomes in late-stage disease. Overall, this study provides insights into new small molecule-based CD diagnostic methods and a new approach to assess functional treatment response.