Trypanosoma cruzi: Correlation of Growth Kinetics to Zymodeme Type in Clones Derived from Various Sources*†

SYNOPSIS. Trypanosoma ( Schizotrypanum ) cruzi clones were derived from isolates of an acute human case of Chagas' disease (strain Esmereldo), a human case of T. cruzi infection (strain CAN‐III) and from a naturally infected opossum (strain WA‐250). The isoenzyme patterns and growth rates of the clones were stable during long‐term cultivation, by serial passages, of the parasites in liquid medium. Both clones of strain Esmereldo were zymodeme II; the 2 clones of strain CAN‐III, zymodeme III; and the 5 clones of strain WA‐250, zymodeme I. The range in doubling times of the parasite populations in liquid medium were 36–49. 7 h (strain WA‐250), 117.2–133.7 h (Esmereldo clones) and 169–208 h (CAN‐III clones).