Trypanosoma cruzi from the Paraguayan Chaco: Isoenzyme Profiles of Strains Isolated at Makthlawaiya1

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Abstract
At Makthlawaiya, in the Paraguayan Chaco, the prevalence of T. (Schizotrypanum) cruzi infection among domestic Triatoma infestans and domestic dogs was 38%, and IgG anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibody was detected by the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 80% (105/133) of human sera. Of Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from Triotonia infestans and dogs 90% (25/28) showed heterozygous isoenzyme profiles for glucose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. These strains appeared to be closely related to Bolivian zymodeme 2. Three Paraguayan T. cruzi strains showed homozygous isoenzyme profiles, similar to those of major Brazilian zymodemes. T. cruzi strains with heterozygous isoenzyme profiles predominate in domestic transmission cycles in this highly endemic area of the Paraguayan Chaco.