Análise morfológica, biológica e molecular confirmam a infecção de macacos mantidos em cativeiro por Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) lewisi no Brasil

In this study we characterize trypanosomes isolated from domestic rats and captive monkeys, with morphology similar to T. (H.) lewisi. Phylogenetic inference using SSU rDNA sequences clustered new Brazilian isolates with T. (H.) lewisi, forming a homogeneous clade separate from other species of the subgenus Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma). Behaviour of the monkey isolates in culture and in experimentally infected rats was also compatible with T. (H.) lewisi. To clarify the relationship between the species within the clade T. (H.) lewisi, polymorphic ITS1 rDNA sequences were analyzed. The results confirm that the strains of rats and monkeys of Brazil are closely related and confirm that the new isolates are T. (H.) lewisi, a species that until recently was considered to be restricted to rodents. Cases of human infections in Asia suggest that T. (H.) lewisi may be an opportunistic parasite of primates.