Comparison of the infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi insect-derived metacyclic trypomastigotes after mucosal and cutaneous contaminative challenges

Trypanosoma cruzi infects humans when infected triatomine vector excreta contaminate breaks in skin or mucosal surfaces. T. cruzi insect-derived metacyclic trypomastigotes (IMT) invade through gastric mucosa after oral challenges without any visible inflammatory changes, while cutaneous and conjunct...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2013-06, Vol.108 (4), p.508-511
Main Authors: Eickhoff, Christopher Steven, Dunn, Brian Anthony, Sullivan, Nicole Lea, Hoft, Daniel Fredric
Format: Article
Language:English
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Short Communications
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Summary:Trypanosoma cruzi infects humans when infected triatomine vector excreta contaminate breaks in skin or mucosal surfaces. T. cruzi insect-derived metacyclic trypomastigotes (IMT) invade through gastric mucosa after oral challenges without any visible inflammatory changes, while cutaneous and conjunctival infections result in obvious local physical signs. In this study we compared the infectivity of T. cruzi IMT in mice after cutaneous and oral contaminative challenges simulating natural infections. The 50% infective dose (ID50) for oral challenge was 100 fold lower than the ID50for cutaneous challenge, indicating that oral mucosal transmission is more efficient than cutaneous transmission.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060
DOI:10.1590/0074-0276108042013018