Key result
DNA analysis identifies T. cruzi I as the dominant strain in Mexican and Guatemalan isolates.
Why the study?
The distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi I and II in human infections causing acute and chronic chagasic cardiopathy in Mexico and Guatemala was not previously described.
Observational (n=20)
Yes
This study demonstrates that Trypanosoma cruzi I is the dominant strain causing human infection, including acute and chronic chagasic cardiopathy, in Mexico and Guatemala.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May guide regional Chagas surveillance; leaves open strain-specific cardiopathy risks pending larger studies.
Trypanosoma cruzi is classified into two major groups named T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II. In the present work we analyzed 16 stocks isolated from human cases and four isolated from triatomines from diverse geographical origins (Mexico and Guatemala). From human cases four were acute cases, six indeterminates, and six from chronic chagasic cardiophatic patients with diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy established based on the left-ventricular end systolic dimension and cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-radiography and impaired contracting ventricle and different degree conduction/rhythm aberrations. DNA samples were analyzed based on mini-exon (ME) polymorphism, using a pool of three oligonucleotide for the amplification of specific intergenic region of T. cruzi ME gene. All the Mexican and Guatemalan isolates regardless their host or vector origin generated a 350 bp amplification product. In conclusion T. cruzi I is dominant in Mexico and Guatemala even in acute and chronic chagasic cardiopathy patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing predominance of T. cruzi I in human infection for North and Central America.
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Ruíz-Sánchez et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Chagas disease (n=20). Trypanosoma cruzi isolates was evaluated on Trypanosoma cruzi group classification based on mini-exon (ME) polymorphism. All 20 Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from Mexican and Guatemalan human cases and triatomines were identified as T. cruzi I, indicating its dominance in these regions.
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