Morphology and Virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi-like Hemoflagellates Isolated from Wild Mammals in Georgia and Florida

Abstract

Five strains of hemoflagellates isolated from opossums, skunks and raccoons were compared morphologically with each other and 3 known species of Trypanosoma. No differences in culture, mouse tissue or insect vector were found among the animal strains and T. cruzi. Infectivity studies in mice showed all animal isolates less virulent than T. cruzi Corpus Christi strain.