Histological lesions associated to the possible infection by Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) in hearts of synanthropic rodents captured in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi es el agente causal de la tripanosomiasis americana, padecimiento endémico en México y cuyos reservorios más importantes son los roedores. T. cruzi refiere tropismo al corazón, ocasionando lesiones y colonizando con nidos con amastigotes; por lo que el estudio histológico de este tejido ayuda al diagnóstico. Se capturaron 262 roedores en Yucatán, México; todos considerados en el análisis microscópico, en el cual se observaron lesiones compatibles a la infección por T. cruzi: infiltrado celular inflamatorio (86.7%), degeneración de fibras cardiacas (6.8%) y pericarditis (6.3%). Asimismo, fue posible identificar nidos con amastigotes (2.2%). Este es el primer estudio histológico realizado en roedores sinantrópicos posiblemente infectados por T. cruzi en Yucatán, México.Trypanosoma cruzi is known as the causal agent of American trypanosomiasis, endemic zoonotic disease in Mexico, whose most important reservoirs are rodents. T. cruzi refers tropism to heart, causing various lesions and colonizing with nests of amastigotes; so the histological examination of this tissue helps for diagnosis. A total of 262 individuals were captured in Yucatan, Mexico; all considered in the microscopic analysis, in which different lesions consistent with T. cruzi infection were identified: inflammatory cell infiltration (86.7%), degeneration of cardiac fibers (6.8%) and pericarditis (6.3%). It was also possible to identify several nests with amastigotes (2.2%). This is the first histological study made in synanthropic rodents probably infected by T. cruzi in Yucatan, Mexico.