Differential virulence, tissue parasitism, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression profiles among Trypanosoma cruzi TcI isolates from triatomine vectors.

Authors

Any Laura Flores Villegas, James González, Edith A Fernández-Figueroa, J Guillermo Jiménez-Cortés, Adriana Moreno-Rodríguez, José A De Fuentes-Vicente, Paz María Salazar-Schettino, Nancy G Santos-Hernández, Martha I Bucio-Torres, Margarita Cabrera-Bravo

Published in

Acta tropica. Pages 108388. Oct 29, 2026. Epub Oct 29, 2026.

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, displays marked biological heterogeneity that influences virulence, tissue parasitism, and immune modulation. In Mexico, several triatomine species participate in the transmission of TcI discrete typing unit (DTU). However, the extent of biological heterogeneity and immunopathological variability among regional isolates remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we characterized TcI isolates (by mini-exon SL-IR) obtained from Triatoma barberi (Qron), T. pallidipennis (Oaxteh), and T. dimidiata (Mezca), evaluating key virulence parameters and host inflammatory responses during acute experimental infection of CD-1 mice. The prepatent period, parasitemia, survival, and tissue parasitism were assessed through parasitological and histopathological analyses of heart, esophagus, gastrocnemius, and brain tissues. We also quantified the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ in these organs using RT-qPCR. Although all isolates were identified as TcI, they exhibited several biological differences. Qron and Oaxteh isolates had prepatent periods of 2 days, high parasitemia, and 100% mortality. In contrast, Mezca isolate showed a 4-day prepatent period, significantly lower parasitemia, and 73% survival. Histological analysis revealed a higher number of amastigote nests in tissues infected with Qron and Oaxteh, whereas Mezca exhibited minimal tissue colonization and no detectable nests in the brain. Cytokine profiling demonstrated substantially higher TNF-α and IFN-γ expression in tissues infected with Qron isolate, correlating with high tissue parasitism, while Mezca isolate induced the lowest cytokine levels and the lowest parasite burdens. Collectively, these findings demonstrate biological and immunopathological heterogeneity among Mexican TcI isolates during acute phase.

PMID:
42957142
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Oct 2026.

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