CELL-SURFACE ANALYSIS OF TRYPANOSOMES OF THE SUBGENUS SCHIZOTRYPANUM ISOLATED FROM BATS

Two stocks (M5, M29) of trypanosomes of the subgenus Schizotrypanum we re isolated from the bat Phyllostomus hastatus and analyzed for cell e lectrophoretic mobility (EPM) and lectin binding surface sites. Epimas tigotes from the M5 and M29 stocks presented a mean EPM of around -0.5 7 and -0.56 mu m. s(-1).V-1.cm, respectively. Differences in the agglu tination profiles were detected between epimastigotes or trypomastigot es from the two parasite populations using lectins with specificity fo r D-GlcNAc, D-GalNAc, D-Gal and D-Man as probe. Major variation was ob served between epimastigote forms. Additionally, the D-GlcNAc binding lectins WGA and BS II strongly interacted with the trypomastigote from both M5 and M29 stocks, this fact is evidence that these trypanosomes ore distinct from Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi.