Survival In Vitro and Virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi in Açaí Pulp in Experimental Acute Chagas Disease

Abstract

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection with high socioeconomic impact throughout Latin America. Although this severe, incurable disease can be transmitted by several routes, oral transmission is currently the most important route in the Amazon Basin. Açaí pulp has nutritional properties and is popular throughout Brazil and abroad. However, this pulp has been associated with microepidemics of acute Chagas disease (ACD) in northern Brazil, where açaí fruit is the main food supplement. In this study, we examined the in vitro survival and in vivo virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in açaí pulp. Aliquots of in natura açaí pulp produced in Belém city in the northern Brazilian state of Pará were mixed with 10⁵ trypomastigotes. The samples were incubated at room temperature or at 4 or -20°C for various periods, and the parasites were isolated by forced sieving. The resulting eluates were examined by microscopy, and the trypomastigotes were administered intraperitoneally, orally, or by gavage to immunodeficient mice (C.B-17-Prkdc(scid)/PasUnib) that had been pretreated with antibiotics. Parasitemia was quantified by the Brener method, and mortality was recorded daily. All routes of administration resulted in ACD. A 5-day delay in the onset of parasitemia occurred with oral administration. The survival and virulence of the parasites were unaffected by prior incubation at room temperature for 24 h, at 4°C for 144 h, and at -20°C for 26 h. These results indicate that T. cruzi can survive and retain its virulence in açaí pulp under various conditions and that cooling and freezing are not suitable methods for preventing foodborne ACD.

Effect of Combination between Phytase , Xylanase and Protease Enzymes in Different Growing Phases on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chicks.

“…Some of the researches supported phytase enzyme and agree with the results of our research Barbosa et al, (2012) found that the addition of phytase, amylase, xylanase, and protease to diets with reducing in energy, calcium, and phosphorus content, give similar result feed intake and weight gain compared with a diet had adequate nutrient levels. Stefanello et al, (2015) showed that the diets supplemented with phytase and with xylanase led to improve growth performance of broiler.…”

Distantiae Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: A New Epidemiological Feature of Acute Chagas Disease in Brazil

“…This simulation was repeated 15 times, and only once did the professionals identify the insect. It is noteworthy that this transmission can occur with the consumption of not only freshly made juice, but also frozen juice [34], [38]. These authors demonstrated that infective T. cruzi can survive in açaí pulp at room temperature for 48 h, at 4°C for 144 h and at −20°C for 26 h.…”

Molecular Epidemiologic Source Tracking of Orally Transmitted Chagas Disease, Venezuela

“…The Chichiriviche outbreak, however, has potential sources both in and outside the immediate area. As found in Chagas disease outbreaks linked to açaí palm fruit in Brazil ( 12 ), the T. cruzi parasite can survive for several days in some foodstuffs ( 13 ). Also, triatomines can survive for months in harvested crops; thus, multiple hygiene interventions are potentially necessary along the food production line ( 14 ).…”