Short Report: Temporal Fluctuation of Infection with Different Trypanosoma cruzi Genotypes in the Wild Rodent Octodon degus

Abstract

We identified and followed-up for two years Octodon degus rodents infected with Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes by using xenodiagnosis with two vector species ( Mepraia spinolai and Triatoma infestans ), polymerase chain reaction DNA-based detection of insect dejections, Southern blot analysis, and minicircle hybridization with genotype-specific probes. Results show temporal fluctuations of infection with four parasite lineages (TCI, TCII, TCV, and TCVI) in one co-infected O. degus . Results are discussed in the context of parasitemia level and infection control in mammal hosts.