Stable infection of primates with Trypanosoma cruzi I and II

Abstract

In order to better comprehend the putative association between genotype Trypanosoma cruzi II and primates, an evaluation of the infection in free ranging primates and specimens born in captivity from different geographical areas, the Amazon and the Atlantic forest, was carried out. Seroprevalences of the T. cruzi infection among the primates was similar in both biomes (45.5% and 46%). The parasites were isolated from 8 and 4 different species of primates, respectively from the Amazon and Atlantic forest. Multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) typed the isolates from Amazon as zymodeme 1. Mini-exon gene analysis characterized all these isolates as T. cruzi I, the main genotype circulating in the region. In the Atlantic forest, primates infected with TCI and TCII, as well as a mixed infection (TCI and TCII), were detected. These findings prove that primates may maintain stable infections by both genotypes. Moreover, data show that T. cruzi can occur in a wide range of primate genera, independent of their social behaviour, niches or habitats. Considering the high seroprevalence and stability of T. cruzi infection among the primates, these animals play an important role in the maintenance of the parasite in nature.

First report of Sapajus cay naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi in San Pedro Department, Paraguay

“…with natural infection in distinct Brazilian ecotopes especially in the Amazon and Atlantic forest. Primates from other species have been also found infected with this parasite, including Leontopithecus rosalia, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, Saimiri sciureus, in different regions of Brazil (ZICCARDI & LOURENÇO-DE-OLIVEIRA, 1997;FERNANDES et al, 1999;LISBOA et al, 2004LISBOA et al, , 2006MONTEIRO et al, 2007;JANSEN et al, 2015); Macaca silenus, Varecia variegata variegata, Lemur catta in the United States, (PUNG et al, 1998;HALL et al, 2007) among others. Reported infection rates ranged from 4% to 88% and infections of T. cruzi combined with T. rangeli in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest were described (ZICCARDI & LOURENÇO-DE-OLIVEIRA, 1997;SILVA et al, 2008;JANSEN et al, 2015).…”

“…In surveys performed in Brazilian Amazonia, several non-human primate species were reported infected with TcI and TcIV, the DTU TcI being the most common, associated with Rhodnius species (MARCILI et al, 2009b). In the Brazilian Atlantic forest, several monkey species were found infected with TcI and 'TcII' (without determination of TcII subgroup, according to the TcIIa-e T. cruzi nomenclature at the time) separately and in mixed infections (LISBOA et al, 2006). Fernandes et al (1999) also reported specimens of L. rosalia infected with 'TcII' (without determination of TcIIa-e subgroup) in Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil).…”

Wild and synanthropic reservoirs of Leishmania species in the Americas

“…Data from naturally infected primates demonstrate that these mammals may be involved in the maintenance of Leishmania in the wild, especially considering their ecology, species transmitted in the canopy. Taking into account the transmission cycle of these parasites, a lack of knowledge regarding the health status of the relocated primates may result in the introduction of infected mammals into a given area, promoting the establishment of new transmission cycles (Lisboa et al., 2006). …”

Lineage-specific serology confirms Brazilian Atlantic forest lion tamarins, Leontopithecus chrysomelas and Leontopithecus rosalia, as reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi II (TcII)

“…In the Amazon region, past research has largely demonstrated TcI infection in primates, corresponding with the principal agent of Chagas disease in humans in this region [27, 31, 35]. More recently Marcili et al [3] isolated both TcI and TcIV (then known as TcIIa) from Amazonian primates.…”