RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o risco cardiovascular em hipertensos e a influência dos fatores de risco nos escores de estratificação. Método: estudo transversal, realizado com hipertensos em acompanhamento ambulatorial, no período de novembro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015. O Escore de Risco Global foi utilizado para avaliar o risco cardiovascular. Para avaliar a influência dos fatores de risco com a estratificação do escore de risco cardiovascular utilizou-se a análise de componentes principais. Resultados: participaram do estudo 57 pacientes, sendo que a maioria (93,1%) foi considerada de alto risco cardiovascular; a análise dos componentes principais identificou cinco componentes que explicam 85,2% da variação total. Conclusão: a avaliação do risco cardiovascular demonstrou a relevância da identificação dos fatores de risco e, consequentemente, a necessidade de implementação de ações que visem o controle desses fatores, o que constitui um desafio no manejo adequado da hipertensão arterial.

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients and the influence of risk factors on the stratification scores. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with hypertensive patients undergoing outpatient follow-up from November 2014 to February 2015. The Global Risk Score was used to assess cardiovascular risk. To assess the influence of the risk factors with the stratification of the cardiovascular risk score, the main components analysis was used. Results: 57 patients participated in the study, and the majority (93.1%) was considered to be at high cardiovascular risk; the analysis of the main components identified five components that explain 85.2% of the total variation. Conclusion: the cardiovascular risk assessment demonstrated the importance of the identification of risk factors and, consequently, the need to implement actions aimed at controlling these factors, which constitutes a challenge in the adequate management of arterial hypertension.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar el riesgo cardiovascular en hipertensos y la influencia de los factores de riesgo en los escores de estratificación. Método: Estudio transversal, realizado con hipertensos en seguimiento ambulatorial, en el período de noviembre de 2014 a febrero de 2015. La puntuación de Riesgo Global fue utilizada para evaluar el riesgo cardiovascular. Para evaluar la influencia de los factores de riesgo con la estratificación del score de riesgo cardiovascular se utilizó el análisis de componentes principales. Resultados: participaron del estudio 57 pacientes, siendo que la mayoría (93,1%) fue considerada de alto riesgo cardiovascular; el análisis de los componentes principales identificó cinco componentes que explican el 85,2% de la variación total. Conclusión: la evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular demostró la relevancia de la identificación de los factores de riesgo y, consecuentemente, la necesidad de implementación de acciones que apunten al control de esos factores, lo que constituye un desafío en el manejo adecuado de la hipertensión arterial.

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients and the influence of risk factors on the stratification scores. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with hypertensive patients undergoing outpatient follow-up from November 2014 to February 2015. The Global Risk Score was used to assess cardiovascular risk. To assess the influence of the risk factors with the stratification of the cardiovascular risk score, the main components analysis was used. Results: 57 patients participated in the study, and the majority (93.1%) was considered to be at high cardiovascular risk; the analysis of the main components identified five components that explain 85.2% of the total variation. Conclusion: the cardiovascular risk assessment demonstrated the importance of the identification of risk factors and, consequently, the need to implement actions aimed at controlling these factors, which constitutes a challenge in the adequate management of arterial hypertension.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar el riesgo cardiovascular en hipertensos y la influencia de los factores de riesgo en los escores de estratificación. Método: Estudio transversal, realizado con hipertensos en seguimiento ambulatorial, en el período de noviembre de 2014 a febrero de 2015. La puntuación de Riesgo Global fue utilizada para evaluar el riesgo cardiovascular. Para evaluar la influencia de los factores de riesgo con la estratificación del score de riesgo cardiovascular se utilizó el análisis de componentes principales. Resultados: participaron del estudio 57 pacientes, siendo que la mayoría (93,1%) fue considerada de alto riesgo cardiovascular; el análisis de los componentes principales identificó cinco componentes que explican el 85,2% de la variación total. Conclusión: la evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular demostró la relevancia de la identificación de los factores de riesgo y, consecuentemente, la necesidad de implementación de acciones que apunten al control de esos factores, lo que constituye un desafío en el manejo adecuado de la hipertensión arterial.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o risco cardiovascular em hipertensos e a influência dos fatores de risco nos escores de estratificação. Método: estudo transversal, realizado com hipertensos em acompanhamento ambulatorial, no período de novembro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015. O Escore de Risco Global foi utilizado para avaliar o risco cardiovascular. Para avaliar a influência dos fatores de risco com a estratificação do escore de risco cardiovascular utilizou-se a análise de componentes principais. Resultados: participaram do estudo 57 pacientes, sendo que a maioria (93,1%) foi considerada de alto risco cardiovascular; a análise dos componentes principais identificou cinco componentes que explicam 85,2% da variação total. Conclusão: a avaliação do risco cardiovascular demonstrou a relevância da identificação dos fatores de risco e, consequentemente, a necessidade de implementação de ações que visem o controle desses fatores, o que constitui um desafio no manejo adequado da hipertensão arterial.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las alteraciones histopatológicas de las placentas provocadas por la infección materna durante la preñez con diferentes cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi. Ratones preñadas, de 60 días de edad, fueron inoculadas por la via intraperitoneal (i.p.) con 2 x 105 tripomastigotes sanguíneos de las cepas colombiana, Y, Bolivia o RC del T. cruzi. Los resultados mostraron que las cepas Bolivia y RC presentan mayor histotropismo por las células placentarias del ratón que las cepas colombiana e Y. El proceso inflamatorio afectó la decidua basal en todos los grupos de ratones infectados, mientras que la cepa colombiana causó intensa degeneración de la decidua basal, con células inflamatorias escasas o ausentes. Las placentas de todos los grupos infectados presentaron áreas de edema, degeneración, necrosis y calcificación, principalmente en la decidua basal. En los animales inoculados con la cepa RC del T. cruzi también fue afectado el trofoblasto de la zona esponjosa. El parasitismo más intenso fue observado en los animales infectados con las cepas Bolivia y RC, envolviendo todas las zonas placentarias, incluso las células trofoblásticas gigantes y el trofoblasto esponjoso. Los resultados permiten concluir que las placentas sufren procesos patológicos diferentes, característicos para cada cepa del T. cruzi.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the histopathological alterations of the placenta provoked by maternal infection during pregnancy by different Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Pregnant mice, 60 day-old, were i.p. inoculated with 2 x 105 bloodstream trypomastigotes of colombian, Y, Bolivia or RC strains of T. cruzi. The results demonstrated that the Bolivia and RC strains showed higher histotropism for the mouse placental cells than the colombian or Y strains. The inflammatory process in all the infected groups involved the basal decidua, but the colombian strain caused intense decidual degeneration, with rare or absent inflammatory cells. Placentas from all the infected groups displayed aéreas of edema, degeneration, necrosis and calcification, mainly in the basal decidua, but the group infected by the RC strain showed also involvement of the spongiotrophoblast. The highest parasitism was observed with the Bolivia and RC strains, involving all the placenta zones, including the trophoblast giant cells and the spongiotrophoblast. The results show that placentas undergo differentiated pathological processes, characteristic for each strain.

The objective of this work was to evaluate karyometrically the alterations caused by different strains of Trypanosoma cruzi in the mouse placenta. Pregnant mice, 60-day oíd, were intraperitoneally inoculated with 2 x 10(5) bloodstream trypomastigotes of the Colombian, Y, Bolivia or RC strain of T cruzi. There were observed clear differences in the karyometric alterations of the trophoblast giant cells and in the spongiotrophoblast cells. The results demónstrate that the Colombian and RC strains cause alterations both in the trophoblast giant cells and in the spongiotrophoblast cells, whereas the Y and Bolivia strains provoke alterations only in the trophoblast giant cells. It is possible concluding that each strain has its own characteristics and that, in spite of the similar type of transmission, it show differential nuances in the placental pathogenic process.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar cariometricamente las alteraciones causadas por diferentes cepas de T. cruzi en la placenta del ratón. Ratones hembras de 60 días, grávidas, fueron inoculadas, intraperitonealmente, con 2 x 10(5) tripomastigotes sanguíneos de las cepas colombiana, Y, Solivia o RC del T. cruzi. Fueron observadas claras diferencias en las alteraciones cariométricas de las células trofoblásticas gigantes y de las células trofoblásticas de la zona esponjosa. Los resultados demostraron que las cepas colombiana y RC causan alteraciones tanto en las células trofoblásticas gigantes como en las células del trofoblasto esponjoso, mientras que las cepas Y y Bolivia provocan alteraciones solamente en las células trofoblásticas gigantes. Es posible concluir que cada cepa posee características propias y que, a pesar del tipo similar de transmisión, presenta matices diferenciales en el proceso de la patogénesis placentaria.

Analizamos morfológica e histométricamente la glándula sublingual de ratones infectados con la cepa RAL del Trypanosoma cruzi, en machos y hembras. Usamos ratones albinos (Mus musculus), variedad Swiss, inoculados con 2x104 tripomastigotes sanguíneos de la cepa RAL del T. cruzi.. Sacrificamos los animales en el pico de la parasitemia (12º día) y fijamos las glándulas sublinguales en ALFAC. Los cortes histológicos teñidos con HE fueron evaluados histométricamente (cariometría y estereología). La parasitemia fue más elevada en las hembras. Histopatológicamente, los "ácinos" (acini) de los animales infectados eran menores, con escasa secreción, y conductos estriados menores. Los núcleos de las "medialunas" eran menores y había nidos de amastigotes en el citoplasma. Cariométricamente, los núcleos de los ácinos, medialunas y conductos estriados eran menores en los ratones infectados. Estereológicamente, los volúmenes relativos ocupados por ácinos y conductos estriados fueron menores e, inversamente, fue mayor el volumen para el tejido conjuntivo de los machos infectados. Las densidades de superficie de ácinos y conductos fueron mayores, y el diámetro y el espesor de la pared menores, en este grupo. Por otro lado, la densidad de ácinos fue menor, y las de los conductos estriados y tejido conjuntivo, fueron mayores en las hembras infectadas. Las densidades de superficie de ácinos y conductos estriados fueron mayores, mientras que el diámetro y espesor de la pared de los ácinos fueron menores (y las de los conductos estriados mayores), en este grupo. La cepa RAL del T. cruzi causó un cuadro general de atrofia general en la glándula sublingual, con numerosos nidos de parásitos.

Histometry of the sublingual gland in male and female mice (Mus musculus) infected with the RAL strain of the Chagas parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. The aim of this work was to analyze histologically and histometrically the sublingual gland of mice infected with the RAL strain of T. cruzi, according to the sex. Swiss mice (Mus musculus) were inoculated with 2x104 blood trypomastigotes of the RAL strain of T. cruzi. in the peak of the parasitemia (12th day) the mice were sacrificed, and the sublingual glands were fixed in ALFAC. HE-stained histological sections were evaluated histometrically. The parasitemia was higher in females. Histopatologically, acini of the infected animals were smaller, with scanty production of secretion, and smaller striated ducts. The nuclei of the demilunes were smaller and showed amastigote nests in the cytoplasm. Karyometrically, nuclei of the acini, demilunes and striated ducts were smaller in the infected mice. Stereologically, it was observed that relative volumes of acini and ducts were smaller and, inversely, relative volumen were greater for the conjunctive tissue in the infected males. The surface densities of acini and ducts were bigger and the diameter and thickness of the wall were smaller in this group. On the other hand, relative volume of acini was smaller and those of the ducts and conjunctive tissue were bigger in the infected females. The diameter and thickness of the wall of acini were smaller, and those of the striated ducts were bigger in this group. The RAL strain of T. cruzi caused general atrophy in the sublingual gland, with numerous nests of parasites in the glandular parenchyma. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (2): 459-471. Epub 2008 June 30.

They were studied the alterations and the level of deterioration of the parotid gland in mice infected with the RAL strain oí Trypanosoma cruzi. They were used albino mice (Mus musculus) of both sexes, due to the existence of sexual dimorphism of the salivary glands, inoculated with 2 x 10(4) blood trypomastigotes of the RAL strain of T cruzi. The animals were sacrificed at the 12th day of infection, coinciding with the parasitemic peak, and the parotid gland was histologically processed and histopathologically and histometrically studied. The results allow verifying intense parasitism in the parotid gland with structural disorganization and widespread atrophy of acini and ducts, more marked in the females. Concluding, the RAL strain of T cruzi shows an atypical behavior in relation to other strains, provoking more clear modifications in the females, probably due to the hormonal alterations motivated by the T cruzi

Fueron estudiadas las alteraciones y el nivel de deterioro de las parótidas de animales infectados con la cepa RAL de Trypanosoma cruzi. Se utilizaron ratones albinos (Mus musculus) de ambos sexos, debido al dimorfismo sexual de las glándulas salivares, inoculados con 2 x 10(4) tripomastigotes sanguíneos de la cepa RAL del T. cruzi. Los animales fueron sacrificados al 12° día de infección, coincidiendo con el pico parasitémico. La parótida fue procesada histológicamente y, posteriormente, evaluada histopatológica y morfometricamente. Los resultados permitieron verificar intenso parasitismo en la glándula, la que presentó desorganización estructural y atrofia generalizada de acinos y conductos, más intensos en las hembras. Concluyendo, la cepa RAL del T. cruzi mostró un comportamiento atípico en relación a otras cepas, causando modificaciones más evidentes en las hembras, debido, posiblemente, a alteraciones hormonales desencadenadas por el T. cruzi

The objective of this work was to characterize histopatologically and morphometrically the alterations of the mouse liver during the acute infection by the MORC-2 strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. This strain showed marked tropism by the liver, with numerous nests of amastigotes in the examined sections. The liver of the infected animals was constituted by smaller cells, with granular cytoplasm. In some areas, the sinusoids were congested and the Kuppfer cells were hipertrofied and hiperplasic. The hepatic tissue showed circumscribed foci of inflammatory cells into necrotic areas, sinusoids, around the contrilobular veins and the portal spaces. The centrilobular vein was dilated and congested, with focal necrosis and rupture of the wall in some regions. The portal spaces were disorganized, sometimes with intense inflammatory infiltrate. In some areas it was possible to observe cystic degeneration (spongis hepatis). In the hepatic tissue, nests of amastigotes, of variable sizes, were observed, some surrounded by chronic inflammatory infiltrate. In the portal space, the relative volume of the biliary ducts and blood vessels, as well as the surface density of the arteries was greater in the infected group

El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar histopatológicamente y morfométricamente las alteraciones del tejido hepático de ratón, durante la fase aguda de la infección por la cepa MORC-2 de Trypanosoma cruzi. Esta cepa mostró acentuado tropismo por el hígado, con numerosos nidos de amastigotes en los cortes examinados. El hígado de los animales infectados estaba constituido por células menores, con citoplasma granuloso. En algunas áreas, los sinusoides estaban congestionados y las células de Kupffer hipertróficas e hiperplásicas. El tejido hepático mostró focos circunscritos de células inflamatorias en áreas de necrosis, sinusoides, en torno de las venas centrolobulillares y de los espacios porta. La vena centrolobulillar estaba dilatada y congestionada, con necrosis focales y ruptura de la pared en algunos campos. Los espacios porta estaban desorganizados, a veces, con intenso infiltrado inflamatorio. En algunas áreas fue posible observar degeneración cística (spongis hepatis). Por todo el tejido hepático se observaron nidos de amastigotes, de tamaño variable, algunos rodeados por infiltrado inflamatorio crónico. En el espacio porta, el volumen relativo de los conductos biliares y vasos sanguíneos, así como la densidad de superficie de las arterias fueron mayores en el grupo infectado

Foram capturados no Município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil, exemplares de gambá, Didelphis albiventris. Na medida em que os exemplares chegavam ao laboratório foram submetidos a exames de sangue a fresco, hemoculturas e xenodiagnósticos, com o propósito de descartar a hipótese de infecção natural. Em cativeiro os animais passaram a ter, como parte de sua alimentação, camundongos parasitados pela cepa Bolívia do Tripanosoma cruzi ou exemplares de triatomíneos comprovadamente infectados pela mesma cepa do parasita. Vinte e cinco dias após a última refeição, foram realizados xenodiagnósticos nos animais em experimentação, cujo índice de infecção nos animais que ingeriram camundongos infectados foi de 60,0% e naqueles que ingeriram triatomíneos foi de 83,3%. Os resultados revelaram que os gambás apresentaram altos índices de infecção, mostrando a importância da via oral como porta de entrada do T. cruzi, bem como a importância do D. albiventris como reservatório do parasita nos focos naturais de infecção e elo de ligação entre o ambiente silvestre e o domicílio.

The infection of several opossums Didelphis albiventris, male, female and young, by oral means by feeding them either on infected triatomines or on mice experimentally infected by Tripanosoma cruzi, is studied. After feeding uncontaminated opossums on carcasses or living specimens of baby mice, infected with the Bolivian strain of T.cruzi, a 60.0% infection index was obtained on xenodiagnoses. On the other hand, after feeding uncontaminated opossums on infected triatomines, an 83.3% index was obtained on xenodiagnoses. These results indicate that the feeding on infected mammals, as well as the ingestion of infected triatomines by omnivorous animals gives high infection indices and demonstrates the importance of the oral route as the means of access of T. cruzi. The also show the importance of opossums as reservoirs of the parasite in the natural focci of infection and as carriers of T. cruzi to the domicile because of their migratory habits.

Foram capturados no Município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil, exemplares de gambá, Didelphis albiventris. Na medida em que os exemplares chegavam ao laboratório foram submetidos a exames de sangue a fresco, hemoculturas e xenodiagnósticos, com o propósito de descartar a hipótese de infecção natural. Em cativeiro os animais passaram a ter, como parte de sua alimentação, camundongos parasitados pela cepa Bolívia do Tripanosoma cruzi ou exemplares de triatomíneos comprovadamente infectados pela mesma cepa do parasita. Vinte e cinco dias após a última refeição, foram realizados xenodiagnósticos nos animais em experimentação, cujo índice de infecção nos animais que ingeriram camundongos infectados foi de 60,0% e naqueles que ingeriram triatomíneos foi de 83,3%. Os resultados revelaram que os gambás apresentaram altos índices de infecção, mostrando a importância da via oral como porta de entrada do T. cruzi, bem como a importância do D. albiventris como reservatório do parasita nos focos naturais de infecção e elo de ligação entre o ambiente silvestre e o domicílio.

The infection of several opossums Didelphis albiventris, male, female and young, by oral means by feeding them either on infected triatomines or on mice experimentally infected by Tripanosoma cruzi, is studied. After feeding uncontaminated opossums on carcasses or living specimens of baby mice, infected with the Bolivian strain of T.cruzi, a 60.0% infection index was obtained on xenodiagnoses. On the other hand, after feeding uncontaminated opossums on infected triatomines, an 83.3% index was obtained on xenodiagnoses. These results indicate that the feeding on infected mammals, as well as the ingestion of infected triatomines by omnivorous animals gives high infection indices and demonstrates the importance of the oral route as the means of access of T. cruzi. The also show the importance of opossums as reservoirs of the parasite in the natural focci of infection and as carriers of T. cruzi to the domicile because of their migratory habits.

Camundongos normais, utilizados como filtros biológicos, foram inoculados endovenosamente, com tripomastigotas sangüícolas da derivada RCL da cepa RC do T. cruzi. Decorridas 48 horas, os animais foram submetidos ao xenodiagnóstico e à punção cardíaca para semeadura do sangue em meio de Warren. No estômago dos triatomíneos e em cultura a 28°C, os tripomastigotas diferenciaram-se em formas arredondadas (esferomastigotas e/ou amastigotas). Esse comportamento das formas sangüícolas largas tem sido observado com freqüência e nos leva a inferir que a biologia do T. cruzi não estaria apenas relacionada com a cepa, mas, eventualmente, com populações do parasita.

The study of the behaviour of T. cruzi strains in animals as in human beings, runs into great difficulties when the attempt is made to relate the morphology of this parasite to its biological behaviour. The thin forms are able to penetrate vertebrate cells faster than the broad forms. So, faced with the biological complexity of the T. cruzi strains and substrains it was decided to investigate the behaviour of its blood forms obtained from normal mice as biological filters. These mice were endovenously inoculated with blood trypomastigotes from derivated RCL of the T. cruzi RC strain. Forty-eight hours later, the animals went through xenodiagnosis and heart punch in order to sow the blood in Warren's medium. The trypomastigotes became round (spheromastigotes and/or amastigotes) in the stomach of the triatomines and cultures at 28°C. The behaviour of the broad forms has been frequently observed and leads to the conclusion that the biology of the T. cruzi is not only related to the strain, but, sometimes, to the parasite population.

Foram utilizados camundongos brancos, pesando em média 18g e duas cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi, morfologicamente distintas: Y com predominância de formas sangüíneas delgadas e Bolívia com predomínio de formas largas. Os lotes de animais receberam 2 x 10³, 2 x 10(4) e 2 x 10(5) tripanossomos por animal e as vias de inoculação utilizadas foram a intraperitoneal e a subcutânea. Nos animais foi observado o curso de infecção. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que, nos experimentos em que se utilizou a cepa Y, existem algumas diferenças significantes, com infecções mais uniformes e virulentas, após inoculação subcutânea de 2 x 10³ e 2 x 10(4) formas sangüíneas de T. cruzi. Entretanto, isto não ocorreu com a cepa Bolívia, pois os animais apresentaram o mesmo padrão de parasitemia e os demais caracteres morfológicos, quer se utilizasse a via subcutânea ou intraperitoneal. Tal fato permite sugerir a existência de interrelação entre os fatores via de inoculação traduzida pela maior ou menor presença de macrófagos no sítio de inoculação, e a morfologia das formas sangüíneas representada pela maior ou menor capacidade de penetração celular.

By means of comparative studies of the infection of mice with T. cruzi using intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculation, it was concluded that more uniform and virulent infections are obtained after subcutaneous inoculation. This is due to an immediate cellular response, when intraperitoneal inoculations are used. With the aim of making comparative studies as between the two methods of inoculation, the intraperitoneal using two, morfologically distinct, strains of T. cruzi: Y with predominance of thin forms and Bolivia with predominance of broad forms. White mice of approximately 18g were required for these tests. The groups of animals received 2 x 10³, 2 x 10(4) and 2 x 10(5) trypanossomes per animal, and the course of the infection was subsequently observed. The results revealed that after subcutaneous inoculation when the Y strain was used in the tests, some significant differences appear, with more virulent and uniform infections. However, these did not appear when the Bolivia strain was used, because the animals showed the same standard parasitemy and other morpho-biological features, whether by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal inoculation. This incident suggests the existence of interrelation between the factors: method of inoculation represented by a greater or lesser presence of macrophages in the inoculated area, and the morphology of the blood forms represented by a greater or lesser capacity for cellular penetration.

Foram utilizados camundongos brancos, pesando em média 18g e duas cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi, morfologicamente distintas: Y com predominância de formas sangüíneas delgadas e Bolívia com predomínio de formas largas. Os lotes de animais receberam 2 x 10³, 2 x 10(4) e 2 x 10(5) tripanossomos por animal e as vias de inoculação utilizadas foram a intraperitoneal e a subcutânea. Nos animais foi observado o curso de infecção. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que, nos experimentos em que se utilizou a cepa Y, existem algumas diferenças significantes, com infecções mais uniformes e virulentas, após inoculação subcutânea de 2 x 10³ e 2 x 10(4) formas sangüíneas de T. cruzi. Entretanto, isto não ocorreu com a cepa Bolívia, pois os animais apresentaram o mesmo padrão de parasitemia e os demais caracteres morfológicos, quer se utilizasse a via subcutânea ou intraperitoneal. Tal fato permite sugerir a existência de interrelação entre os fatores via de inoculação traduzida pela maior ou menor presença de macrófagos no sítio de inoculação, e a morfologia das formas sangüíneas representada pela maior ou menor capacidade de penetração celular.

By means of comparative studies of the infection of mice with T. cruzi using intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculation, it was concluded that more uniform and virulent infections are obtained after subcutaneous inoculation. This is due to an immediate cellular response, when intraperitoneal inoculations are used. With the aim of making comparative studies as between the two methods of inoculation, the intraperitoneal using two, morfologically distinct, strains of T. cruzi: Y with predominance of thin forms and Bolivia with predominance of broad forms. White mice of approximately 18g were required for these tests. The groups of animals received 2 x 10³, 2 x 10(4) and 2 x 10(5) trypanossomes per animal, and the course of the infection was subsequently observed. The results revealed that after subcutaneous inoculation when the Y strain was used in the tests, some significant differences appear, with more virulent and uniform infections. However, these did not appear when the Bolivia strain was used, because the animals showed the same standard parasitemy and other morpho-biological features, whether by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal inoculation. This incident suggests the existence of interrelation between the factors: method of inoculation represented by a greater or lesser presence of macrophages in the inoculated area, and the morphology of the blood forms represented by a greater or lesser capacity for cellular penetration.

Camundongos normais, utilizados como filtros biológicos, foram inoculados endovenosamente, com tripomastigotas sangüícolas da derivada RCL da cepa RC do T. cruzi. Decorridas 48 horas, os animais foram submetidos ao xenodiagnóstico e à punção cardíaca para semeadura do sangue em meio de Warren. No estômago dos triatomíneos e em cultura a 28°C, os tripomastigotas diferenciaram-se em formas arredondadas (esferomastigotas e/ou amastigotas). Esse comportamento das formas sangüícolas largas tem sido observado com freqüência e nos leva a inferir que a biologia do T. cruzi não estaria apenas relacionada com a cepa, mas, eventualmente, com populações do parasita.

The study of the behaviour of T. cruzi strains in animals as in human beings, runs into great difficulties when the attempt is made to relate the morphology of this parasite to its biological behaviour. The thin forms are able to penetrate vertebrate cells faster than the broad forms. So, faced with the biological complexity of the T. cruzi strains and substrains it was decided to investigate the behaviour of its blood forms obtained from normal mice as biological filters. These mice were endovenously inoculated with blood trypomastigotes from derivated RCL of the T. cruzi RC strain. Forty-eight hours later, the animals went through xenodiagnosis and heart punch in order to sow the blood in Warren's medium. The trypomastigotes became round (spheromastigotes and/or amastigotes) in the stomach of the triatomines and cultures at 28°C. The behaviour of the broad forms has been frequently observed and leads to the conclusion that the biology of the T. cruzi is not only related to the strain, but, sometimes, to the parasite population.

Os autores realizaram um estudo do comportamento da infecção determinada por uma amostra do Trypanosoma cruzi - amostra Bolivia - através da inoculação de formas aflageladas ou flageladas, obtidas de cultura em meio de' Warren, em camundongos brancos jovens. Utilizaram como critérios de avaliação do decurso da infecção: o período prepatente, o índice de infecção, a parasi temia, a duração da fase aguda e a taxa de letalidade. Essas observações indicaram que o comportamento da infecção varia quando partimos de um ou outro tipo de inóculo.

The authors made a study of the infection behaviour of a T. cruzi strain - Bolivia strain - through the inoculation of leishmania and flagellates forms from culture (Warren media) in white baby mice. They have used the prepatent period, the infection index, the parasitemia during the acute phase and the death rate for the evaluation of the infectious process. The results showed different characteristics of the infection when are used one or the other kind of inoculation.

Os autores, após uma revisão dos achados de roedores da família Cricetidae e do gênero Oryzomys infectados pelo T. cruzi, assinalam a infecção de um exemplar do rato, Oryzomys nigripes (Desmarest, 1819), capturado no Bairro da Ilha, município de Salto de Pirapora, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, e cuja amostra de T. cruzi foi isolada através do xenodiagnóstico. O tripanossomo em estudo mostrou-se patogênico para ratos Wistar e camundongos brancos jovens, infectando 100,0% dos animais inoculados. As formas sanguícolas nos camundongos têm 24,25μ. de comprimento total médio e 1,27μ, de índice nuclear médio. Nos animais sacrificados durante a fase aguda da infecção ninhos de leishmânias foram observados, em fibras cardíacas. A infecção experimental de camundongos inoculados com sangue parasitado é leve, com período prepatente relativamente longo (média de 7,1 dias), com baixa parasitemia, e duração da fase aguda variando de 55 a 64 dias. Provas de proteção mostraram que a amostra em estudo confere aos camundongos que sobreviveram alto grau de resistência contra reinfecções pela amostra Y. O tripanossomo cultiva-se bem em meio de Mac Neal - Novy e em meio líquido de Warren. Infecta regularmente triatomíneos, dando os seguintes índices de infecção: P. megistus - 100,0%, T. infestans - 76,7%, T. sórdida - 86,7%o e R. neglectus - 100,0%.

The authors after reviewing the finding on rodents of the family Cricetidae and geners Oryzomys infected by T. cruzi, report the infection of a specimen of the rat, Oryzomys nigripes (Desmarest, 1819), captured at Salto de Pirapora, State of São Paulo, Brazil, whose T. cruzi strain was isolated through xenodiagnosis. The trypanosome is pathogenic for baby wistar rats and white mice, infecting one hundred percent of the animals inoculated. Blood flagellates observed in mice have a mean total lenght of 24,25μ and a mean nuclear index of 1,27μ. Leishmanial forms were seen in cardiac fibres of mice killed during the acute fase of infection. The infection in mice was mild, with relatively long prepatent period (mean of 7,1 days), with low parasitemia, long duration of the acute phase and small letality index. Protection tests show that mice recovered from a infection voith the rodent strain develop a high resistance against reinfection by the Y strain. The trypanosome is easily cultivated in blood agar medium and in Warren's liquid medium. It infected regularly some species of triatomine tested, giving the following infection rates: P. megistus- 100,0 percent; T. infestans - 76,7 per cent; T. sordida - 86,7 per cent; R. neglectus - 100,0 per cent.