The current most important form of transmission for Trypanosoma cruzi is the oral route, being responsible for high mortality during the acute phase in infected individuals. Therefore, the present study has investigated the possibility of infection for this parasite using sugar cane juice in different temperatures employing metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained from xenodiagnosis performed in Swiss mice previously infected with T.cruzi Y strain, and then diluted in 15 mL of sugar cane juice. In addition, 20 mice were infected using 2,5 mL of that mixture for the stomach histopathological analysis, which was euthanized after the second, fourth, tenth, and fifteenth days after infection. Concurrently, six batches of 10 mice were fed using 1,5 mL of the mixture kept for 12 hours at temperatures of -80ºC, -20ºC, + 2ºC, + 28ºC, + 60ºC, and + 80º C, for later infection verification. Inflammatory infiltrate was found after the second day of infection, and amastigotes nests were present after the fourth, tenth, and fifteenth day in the margo plicatus stomach region. Viable trypomastigotes were observed in the microtubes kept at -80ºC, -20,ºC and + 2ºC, but the animal’s infection was observed in -80ºC and + 2ºC groups. In vitro tests demonstrated the decrease of T. cruzi trypomastigote viability, being negative after 120 hours at -20ºC, 144 hours at + 2ºC, in contrast to the maintenance of survival after 168 hours at -80ºC. We also observed the ability of survival and infection of T. cruzi packaged at -80ºC without the use of preservatives and, therefore, less suitable for storing food.

Resumo: Introdução: A pandemia causada pelo Sars-CoV-2 tem provocado repercussões econômicas, sociais e na saúde mental dos indivíduos com a instauração do distanciamento social. Consequentemente, as escolas médicas suspenderam atividades e readaptaram a estrutura da formação acadêmica, atingindo com maior intensidade os estudantes do quinto e sexto anos. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender as repercussões emocionais, sociais e na formação acadêmica e profissional, a partir do distanciamento social decorrente da pandemia da Covid-19, na perspectiva do estudante de Medicina dos dois últimos anos de uma escola médica, após paralisação de atividades presenciais. Método: Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa realizada em uma faculdade do interior paulista, com estudantes dos dois últimos anos do curso de Medicina, por meio de narrativas e com posterior análise de conteúdo temática, conforme Bardin e Minayo. Resultado: Foram analisadas 11 narrativas, sendo sete escritas por acadêmicos do quinto ano e quatro do sexto. Nelas, evidenciaram-se medo da pandemia e de suas repercussões, descrença com a situação do país e crítica ao comportamento de conhecidos. No âmbito acadêmico, houve a preocupação com a paralisação das atividades práticas em um momento próximo do final da graduação e a reflexão sobre a condição de ser um estudante de Medicina no internato durante a pandemia. Além disso, emergiu um sentimento de incapacidade no auxílio ao enfrentamento da crise sanitária e receio do contágio de si próprio e de familiares. Todavia, também foram relatadas necessidades de descanso, de reforço de vínculos familiares e de oportunidade para novos aprendizados. Conclusão: Em suma, a pandemia gerou inquietações a respeito das incertezas nos campos social, econômico, político e científico, as quais, somadas ao momento da formação dos acadêmicos de Medicina, contribuíram para dificuldades em relação à saúde mental. Não obstante, houve também a avaliação do período como positivo, pois propiciou tempo livre para aumento no rendimento dos estudos, além de oportunidade para realizar atividades extracurriculares.

Introduction: The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (Sars-cov-2) has resulted in economic, social and mental health consequences for individuals with the establishment of social distancing. Consequently, medical schools suspended their activities, with the need to rethink the structure of academic education, affecting students in the fifth and sixth years with greater intensity. Objective: To understand the emotional, social and academic and professional training consequences of social distancing resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspective of the medical student in the last two years of medical school, after the interruption of in-person activities. Method: Study conducted at a medical school in the interior of São Paulo, with students from the last two years of the medical course. This is a qualitative field research, carried out through narratives with thematic content analysis, according to Bardin and Minayo. Results: Eleven narratives were analyzed, seven written by fifth-year students and four by sixth-year students. In them, fear of the pandemic and its consequences, disbelief with the country’s situation and criticism of the behavior of acquaintances were evident. In the academic setting, there was concern about the interruption of practical activities close to the end of the undergraduate course, thoughts about being a medical student on clinical clerkship during the pandemic, with a feeling of incapacity in helping to cope with the health crisis, as well as fear of getting infected or infecting family members. However, the need for rest, reinforcement of family bonds and opportunities for new learning were also reported. Conclusions: In short, the pandemic generated concerns about uncertainties in the social, economic, political and scientific fields, which, added to the moment of these medical students’ education, contributed to difficulties in relation to mental health. However, the period was also evaluated as a positive one, as it provided free time to increase study performance, in addition to the opportunity to carry out extracurricular activities.