American trypanosomiasis in British Honduras: VIII. The morphogenesis of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi in the tissues of animals experimentally infected with British Honduras strains of the parasite

ABSTRACT

The cycle is described of the intracellular development of British Honduras strains of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi in the tissues of experimentally infected animals. From studies and observations on a considerable amount of material it is concluded that the morphogenesis of T. cruzi in tissues includes the amastigote, sphaeromastigote, epimastigote and transitional trypomastigote forms, leading to the formation of the bloodtype trypnosome. It is suggested that, in order to clarify the long-standing controversy on the morphogenesis of the parasite, more detailed studies are required on the characteristics and variations of T. cruzi strains from other geographical localities where Chagas' disease is epidemic.(Summary)