Predominance of Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes in two reservoirs infected by sylvatic Triatoma infestans of an endemic area of Chile

We report results of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and parasite genotypes in the wild Octodon degus and synantropic reservoir Rattus rattus from an endemic area with sylvatic Triatoma infestans as the only detected vector. The infection status was determined by hemi-nested PCR directed to minicircles DNA and genotyping by hybridization tests with a panel of five specific probes, including two probes for TcI subgroups (clones 19 and 20). O. degus was found infected with 13.3% and mainly with sublineage TcIId, and less with TcIIb and TcI. Meantime the synantropic R. rattus was found infected with 27.7% and mainly with TcI and much less with TcIId, TcIIb and TcIIe.The results are discussed to explain the distribution of T. cruzi genotypes between these two reservoirs and the importance of sylvatic foci of T. infestans allowing the permanence of the wild and peridomestic cycle of Chagas disease.