MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC VARIABILITY OF 3 CLONES TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI AND THE STRAIN OF ORIGIN (BOLIVIA)

Knowing the great diversity of medical and biological properties of Tr ypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas' disease, we quantified th e morphological parameters that typify the different forms of three cl ones of T. cruzi and their original strain, Bolivia, in comparison amo ng themselves and with strain Bolivia, attempting to provide additiona l data concerning the clonal biological behaviour of this parasite. Bl ood forms morphology was quantified using a computarized image analysi s (Videoplan/Kontron) and statistical analysis was determined using AN OVA-1 Test. Large number of quantitative differences among slender, br oad, and stout forms were found. The comparison of clones I, II and II I with their mother strain, leads to the emergence of significant diff erences in at least 12 parameters out of the 16 we studied. When clone s were compared among themselves, the differences decreased. Variation s of the percentages of the three kinds of clones were found along the acute infection. These data are the first step in correlating the mor phological and pathogenic characteristics of the parasite.