Enriquez, G.F.Cardinal, M.V.Orozco, M.M.Lanati, L.Schijman, A.G.Gürtler, R.E.2013-04-182013-04-1820122012-10Enriquez, G.F., Cardinal, M.V., Orozco, M.M., Lanati, L., Schijman, A.G., & Gürtler, R.E. (2012). Discrete typing units of Trypanosoma cruzi identified in rural dogs and cats in the humid Argentinean Chaco. Parasitology, 1-6.doi:10.1017/S003118201200159Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/50954The discrete typing units (DTUs) of Trypanosoma cruzi that infect domestic dogs and cats have rarely been studied.With this purpose we conducted a cross-sectional xenodiagnostic survey of dog and cat populations residing in 2 infested rural villages in Pampa del Indio, in the humid Argentine Chaco. Parasites were isolated by culture from 44 dogs and 12 cats with a positive xenodiagnosis. DTUs were identified from parasite culture samples using a strategy based on multiple polymerase-chain reactions. TcVI was identified in 37 of 44 dogs and in 10 of 12 cats, whereas TcV was identified in 5 dogs and in 2 cats –a new finding for cats. No mixed infections were detected. The occurrence of 2 dogs infected with TcIII – classically found in armadillos– suggests a probable link with the local sylvatic transmission cycle involving Dasypus novemcinctus armadillos and a potential risk of human infection with TcIII. Our study reinforces the importance of dogs and cats as domestic reservoir hosts and sources of various DTUs infecting humans, and suggests a link between dogs and the sylvatic transmission cycle of TcIII.Text1 digital file (p. 1-6)Application/pdfenCHAGAS DISEASETRYPANOSOMA CRUZIDISCRETE TYPING UNITSDOGSCATSRESERVOIRSVECTOR-BORNE DISEASESJournal Article (peer-reviewed)