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2030-12-31
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A STANDARDIZABLE PROTOCOL FOR INFECTION OF RHODNIUS PROLIXUS WITH TRYPANOSOMA RANGELI, WHICH MIMICS NATURAL INFECTIONS AND REVEALS PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF INFECTION UPON THE INSECT
Trypanosoma rangeli
Host-parasite interaction
Host manipulation
Biological cycle
Lipid
Fat body
Haemolymph volume
Author
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa René. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa René. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Department of Animal Biology. Federal University of Viçosa. Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa René. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa René. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Department of Animal Biology. Federal University of Viçosa. Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa René. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Abstract
Trypanosoma rangeli is a protozoan parasite that shares hosts - mammals and triatomines - with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Although T. rangeli is customarily considered to be non-pathogenic to human hosts, it is able to produce pathologies in its invertebrate hosts. However, advances are hindered by a lack of standardization of infection procedures and these pathologies need documentation. To establish a suitable, and standardizable, infection protocol, the duration of the fourth instar was evaluated in nymphs infected by injection into the thorax with different concentrations of parasites, and compared with nymphs infected naturally (i.e. orally). We demonstrate that delays in moult were attributable to the presence of the parasite in the haemolymph (vs. the gut) and propose that the protocol presented here simulates closely natural infections. This methodology was then used for the evaluation of physiological parameters and several hitherto unreported effects of T. rangeli infection on Rhodnius prolixus were revealed. Haemolymph volume was greater in infected than uninfected nymphs but this alteration could not be attributed to water retention, since infected insects lost the same amount of water as controls. However, we found that lipid content and fat body weight were both increased in insects infected by T. rangeli. We propose that this is due to the parasite's sequestration of host blood lipids and carrier proteins. With these findings, we have taken a few first steps to unravelling physiological details of the host-parasite interaction. We suggest future directions towards a fuller understanding of mechanistic and adaptive aspects of triatomine-trypanosomatid interactions.
Keywords
RhodniusTrypanosoma rangeli
Host-parasite interaction
Host manipulation
Biological cycle
Lipid
Fat body
Haemolymph volume
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