Didelphis marsupialis: a primary reservoir of Trypanosoma cruzi in urban areas of Caracas, Venezuela

Trypanosoma cruzi in the anal glands of urban opossums: I- isolation and experimental infections

“…In our current investigation of T. cruzi mammalian reservoirs in the intensely urbanized areas of the valley of Caracas, Venezuela, we have found high indices of infection in D. marsupialis (Herrera & Urdaneta-Morales 1992). The present paper describes the presence of all stages of T. cruzi in the content of the anal glands of these opossums, as well as the results of experimental infections performed in opossums and mice.…”

Experimental transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi through the genitalia of albino mice

“…The urogenital organs are regularly parasitized in experimental infections (Bice & Zeledón 1970, Herrera & Urdaneta-Morales 1992, Tavares et al 1994, Lenzi et al 1996, Scorza et al 1996. Blood trypomastigotes have been isolated from the urine of opossums and mice (references in Zeledón 1974).…”

“…Blood flagellates of the genera Leishmania and Trypanosoma have been observed in urine, macrophages of genital mucosa, semen, and the mucous exudate of the penis (Symmers 1960, Hoare 1972, Uche & Jones 1992, Mebrahtu et al 1993). Bloodstream forms of T. cruzi have been observed mixed with sperm (Vianna 1911, Lamano Carvalho et al 1991, in urine (Zeledón 1974), and in almost all urogenital organs of experimental animals (Herrera & Urdaneta-Morales 1992, Lenzi et al 1996. Thus, to investigate the possibility of transmission through the mucosa of the genitalia, we instilled contaminated blood into the vagina and penis of mice, and also injected it into the male scrotum.…”

Histopathological study of experimental and natural infections by Trypanosoma cruzi in Didelphis marsupialis

“…The first case of natural infection by T. cruzi in marsupials was reported by Robertson (1929) in D. marsupialis. Further studies have confirmed the importance of this reservoir showing levels of natural infection ranging from 17 to 100% (Rodrigues & Mello 1942, Guimarães & Jansen 1943, McKeever & Gorman 1958, Herrera & Urdaneta-Morales 1992, Travi et al 1994.…”

“…These authors did not mention inflammatory reactions related to T. cruzi in other sites in the animal. More recently Herrera and Urdaneta-Morales (1992) observed only few parasites in the heart of 2 naturally infected opossums.…”