Chagas' cardiopathy and trypanosoma cruzi zymodemes in Chile

Abstract

T. Cruzzi strains isolated from 97 Chilean subjects were cultured, centrifuged, and lysed to yield enzyme extracts. Subsequent electrophoretic testing of these extracts served to identify three strains designated 21, Z?a, and Z2b. 21, infecting two subjects, was a wild strain of IT: cmzi transmitted by the bug Triaoma spinolai; Da, infecting 16 subjects, was similar to a Brazilian strain (Esmeraldo clone 3, 22); and Z2b, infecting 79 subjects, was similar to the Bolivian 22 strain (clone 1 SC43). Two sets of EKG tracings and clinical examinations spaced at least four years apart provided data relating to cardiopathology. EKG alterations indicating chagasic cardiopathy were found in both of the subjects infected with strain 21, eight (50%) of those infected with Z2a, and 26 (33%) of those infected with Z2b. No statistically significant differences were found between the incidence of EKG alterations in subjects infected with different strains, perhaps because of the small numbers involved.