Compared vectorial transmissibility of pure and mixed clonal genotypes of Trypanosoma cruzi in Triatoma infestans.

Abstract

A total of 15 mixtures involving 9 di erent stocks attributed to the 19/20, 32 and 39 major clonal genotypes of Trypanosoma cruzi were used to infect third-instar nymphs of Triatoma infestans via an arti®- cial feeding device. Three biological parameters were considered: (1) the percentage of infected insects (%II), (2) the number of ¯agellates per insect (NFI), and (3) the percentage of trypomastigotes per insect (%DIF). Ge- netic characterization by both multilocus enzyme elec- trophoresis (MLEE) and random ampli®cation of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) indicated that in almost all cases (87%), mixtures remained present after completion of the whole cycle in the insect vector. Two lines of comparison were performed: (1) pure clonal genotypes versus corresponding mixed clonal genotypes and (2) the actual behavior of mixed clonal genotypes versus the expected behavior of the theoretical mixture (i.e. the arithmetic mean of the results observed for each of the two clonal genotypes taken separately). Statistical analyses of the variables were made di cult because of the presence of large standard deviations. Nevertheless, in several cases, mixtures di ered signi®cantly from pure clonal genotypes, and in one case the actual mixture di ered signi®cantly from the theoretical mixture. In some cases, interaction (either potentialization or re- ciprocal inhibition) could be suspected.