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Experimental benznidazole treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with Chagas disease
de Oliveira-Silva, Jaquelline Carla Valamiel; Machado-de-Assis, Girley Francisco; Oliveira, Maykon Tavares; Paiva, Nívia Carolina Noguieira; Araújo, Márcio Sobreira Silva; Carneiro, Cláudia Martins; Martins-Filho, Olindo Assis; Martins, Helen Rodrigues & de Lana, Marta
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi strains from distinct geographic areas show differences in drug resistance and association
between parasites genetic and treatment response has been observed. Considering that benznidazole (BZ) can reduce
the parasite burden and tissues damage, even in not cured animals and individuals, the goal is to assess the
drug response to BZ of T. cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais,
Brazil, before treatment. Mice infected and treated with BZ in both phases of infection were compared with the untreated
and evaluated by fresh blood examination, haemoculture, polymerase chain reaction, conventional (ELISA)
and non-conventional (FC-ALTA) serologies. In mice treated in the acute phase, a significant decrease in parasitaemia
was observed for all strains. Positive parasitological and/or serological tests in animals treated during the acute
and chronic (95.1-100%) phases showed that most of the strains were BZ resistant. However, beneficial effect was
demonstrated because significant reduction (p < 0.05%) and/or suppression of parasitaemia was observed in mice
infected with all strains (acute phase), associated to reduction/elimination of inflammation and fibrosis for two/eight
strains. BZ offered some benefit, even in not cured animals, what suggest that BZ use may be recommended at least
for recent chronic infection of the studied region.
Keywords
Trypanosoma cruzi II; benznidazole response; acute and chronic phases; murine model; Jequitinhonha Valley; MG; Brazil
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