Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes associated with domestic Triatoma sordida in Bolivia

Triatoma sordida is the second species of Triatominae considered of epidemi ological significance in Bolivia. Associated with Triatoma infestans in var ious regions, it is as yet the only triatomine species established in human dwellings in localities of Velasco province, Department of Santa Cruz. Thi s domestication is considered as primary. Flagellate parasites were detecte d in 16.2% of domiciliary T. sordida and the kDNA-PCR confirmed the presenc e of Trypanosoma cruzi. Frequencies of T. cruzi clonets 20 and 39, common c lonets in Bolivian domestic cycle (T. infestans), were established by their direct detection in feces using PCR and hybridization. These clonets prese nt low frequencies in T. sordida and synanthropic mammals. Forty-six stocks were isolated and analysed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). Th e MLEE showed a higher clonal diversity than in T, infestans domestic cycle and the genotypes were clustered in the two principal lineages of T. cruzi . Within each lineage, a broad variability was observed. Mixture of genotyp es was mostly observed in mammals. The large diversity of T. cruzi in this cycle should be related to its sylvatic origin. Moreover, the current limit ed sample of stocks suggests a lineage association with specific hosts. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.