ITS-RFLP- and RAPD-based genetic variability of Trypanosoma cruzi I, human and vector strains in Santander (Colombia)

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 519 - 528
• Main Authors: Luna-Marín, Katherine Paola, Jaramillo-Londoño, Claudia Lorena, Hernández-Torres, Jorge, Gutiérrez-Marín, Reynaldo, Vallejo, Gustavo Adolfo, Angulo-Silva, Víctor Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 2009; Springer-Verlag; Springer
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Immunology; Invertebrates; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Original Paper; Triatominae; Trypanosoma cruzi; South America; Colombia; America; Spain, Cantabria, Santander; Trypanosoma Cruzi; Polymerase Chain Reaction Product; Faint Band; Visceral Leishmaniasis; Transmission Cycle; Kinetoplastida; Human; Protozoa; Genetic variability; Parasite; Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker; Vector; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1422-0

Chagas disease is a severe public health problem in Latin-American countries. In Colombia, the predominance of Trypanosoma cruzi I has been described in the literature, with a broad heterogeneity between strains. However, most of the studies carried out centered on isoenzyme analysis, with a smaller number that focus on other molecular methods. In this report, we discuss the results of a molecular analysis of T. cruzi I strains, isolated from the domestic cycle, from the department of Santander, one of the territorial divisions where the prevalence of infection is highest. Internal transcribed spacer-restriction fragment length polymorphism and random amplification of polymorphic DNA were used to characterize 16 strains from human and vector (Triatominae) hosts. The data reveal a clustering based on the biological origin. Human and vector strains grouped separately; however, three vector strains clustered together with human strains. These results indicate that genetic differences exist in the strains that infect both hosts. We conclude that T. cruzi I populations in the domestic cycle of transmission of Chagas disease in Santander are heterogeneous and are composed of different clones. The epidemiological and biological implications are discussed.