Sperm Morphological Features Associated with Chronic Chagas Disease in the Semen of Experimentally Infected Dogs

Abstract

Abstract. The presence of trypanosomatids in the reproductive systems of different mammals (causing genital lesions in the acute stage of the disease) may predispose the animals to low semen quality. However, there are no studies examining the alterations in the sperm morphological features in the chronic stage of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Knowledge of these aspects is important to understand the other ways of transmission of the Chagas disease. Progressive motility, mass motility, concentration, and sperm morphology of 84 ejaculates of dogs that were chronically infected with T. cruzi were evaluated. Most of the findings were consistent with the reference values and with those obtained from healthy control dogs. The scrotal circumference was not correlated with spermatozoa concentration in the infected animals. In conclusion, the T. cruzi Ninoa (MHOM/MX/1994/Ninoa) strain does not cause significant alterations in the semen quality of dogs experiencing chronic Chagas disease (at concentrations of 5

Spermatic profile of captive giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla): Knowing more to preserve better

“…The presence of Trypanosomassp may predispose different mammals to low or very poor semen quality (Graullera-Rivera et al, 2014;Sekoni, 1994) and may cause abortion and infertility (Seidl et al, 1999;Sekoni, 1994). In Myrmecophagidae family, T. cruzi, T. legeri, and T. rangeliwere reported in giant anteaters, lesser anteater, and northern tamandua (Araújo et al, 2013;Dereure et al, 2001;Lainson, 1965;Laveran & Mesnil, 1912;Lima et al, 1983;Reis et al, 2019;Rodrigues & Melo, 1942;Strong et al, 1926).…”