Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico

<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, the causal agent of Chagas disease, exhibits great genetic diversity, which has been related to its biological properties. However, these are poorly known in strains from the endemic area of Hidalgo. To assess the parasite’s virulence, we evaluated parasitemia,...

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Main Authors: Yessenia Montes-Vergara, Alberto Antonio-Campos, José Miguel Padilla-Valdez, Erick Abraham Contreras-López, Julio Cesar Noguez-García, Nancy Rivas, Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/5/122
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author Yessenia Montes-Vergara
Alberto Antonio-Campos
José Miguel Padilla-Valdez
Erick Abraham Contreras-López
Julio Cesar Noguez-García
Nancy Rivas
Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
author_facet Yessenia Montes-Vergara
Alberto Antonio-Campos
José Miguel Padilla-Valdez
Erick Abraham Contreras-López
Julio Cesar Noguez-García
Nancy Rivas
Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
author_sort Yessenia Montes-Vergara
collection DOAJ
description <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, the causal agent of Chagas disease, exhibits great genetic diversity, which has been related to its biological properties. However, these are poorly known in strains from the endemic area of Hidalgo. To assess the parasite’s virulence, we evaluated parasitemia, mortality, and tropism in thirteen organs of CD1 mice during the acute phase of infection. For genotyping, we amplified the mini-exon gene from <i>T. cruzi</i> DNA using PCR. All five isolates were identified as belonging to DTU TcI. The peak of parasitemia occurred between 25 and 29 days post-infection. The Tultitlán and Olma isolates did not cause any mouse deaths, whereas Ixcatépec produced 100% mortality. Mice infected with the Barrio Hondo isolate exhibited the highest parasitemia, while those infected with Cuatecomaco had the lowest. The five isolates generated varying degrees of infection and chronic inflammation; only two isolates triggered acute pancreatitis and myocarditis. No amastigote nests were found in the hearts of mice infected with the Ixcatépec isolate. Our findings suggest that the damage caused by <i>T. cruzi</i> strains from Hidalgo may extend beyond cardiac lesions in the acute phase of Chagas disease regardless of their classification as TcI and variability in parasitemia levels.
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spelling doaj-art-5911d3f49d5b4cdba6b57cfd921610fb2025-08-20T02:33:48ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662025-05-0110512210.3390/tropicalmed10050122Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, MexicoYessenia Montes-Vergara0Alberto Antonio-Campos1José Miguel Padilla-Valdez2Erick Abraham Contreras-López3Julio Cesar Noguez-García4Nancy Rivas5Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar6Laboratorio de Entomología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n. Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, MexicoLaboratorio de Entomología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n. Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, MexicoLaboratorio de Entomología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n. Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, MexicoHospital General Regional No.25 Zaragoza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de Mexico 09220, MexicoÁrea de Entomología, Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública de Hidalgo, Servicios de Salud Hidalgo, Pachuca de Soto 42088, MexicoLaboratorio de Entomología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n. Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, MexicoLaboratorio de Entomología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n. Col. Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, the causal agent of Chagas disease, exhibits great genetic diversity, which has been related to its biological properties. However, these are poorly known in strains from the endemic area of Hidalgo. To assess the parasite’s virulence, we evaluated parasitemia, mortality, and tropism in thirteen organs of CD1 mice during the acute phase of infection. For genotyping, we amplified the mini-exon gene from <i>T. cruzi</i> DNA using PCR. All five isolates were identified as belonging to DTU TcI. The peak of parasitemia occurred between 25 and 29 days post-infection. The Tultitlán and Olma isolates did not cause any mouse deaths, whereas Ixcatépec produced 100% mortality. Mice infected with the Barrio Hondo isolate exhibited the highest parasitemia, while those infected with Cuatecomaco had the lowest. The five isolates generated varying degrees of infection and chronic inflammation; only two isolates triggered acute pancreatitis and myocarditis. No amastigote nests were found in the hearts of mice infected with the Ixcatépec isolate. Our findings suggest that the damage caused by <i>T. cruzi</i> strains from Hidalgo may extend beyond cardiac lesions in the acute phase of Chagas disease regardless of their classification as TcI and variability in parasitemia levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/5/122<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>Chagas diseaseparasitemiaorganotropismgenotypingDTU
spellingShingle Yessenia Montes-Vergara
Alberto Antonio-Campos
José Miguel Padilla-Valdez
Erick Abraham Contreras-López
Julio Cesar Noguez-García
Nancy Rivas
Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>
Chagas disease
parasitemia
organotropism
genotyping
DTU
title Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
title_full Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
title_fullStr Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
title_short Biological and Molecular Characterization of Five <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) Isolates from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico
title_sort biological and molecular characterization of five i trypanosoma cruzi i chagas 1909 kinetoplastida trypanosomatidae isolates from the state of hidalgo mexico
topic <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>
Chagas disease
parasitemia
organotropism
genotyping
DTU
url https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/5/122
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