Mamíferos cinegéticos de Venezuela: Riesgos epidemiológicos en la infección con Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi

The aim of this study, done through the examination of specialized articles, Google Scholar data and results of field work and laboratory research, was to summarize the following objectives: to stablish the Venezuelan mammal species host for Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi, the causative of Chagas’ disease; to identify the cinegetic vertebrate species characterized as those that provide protein requirements and zootherapeutic medicines captured by neotropical indigenous and mestizo populations. Of the cinegetic mammals of big size were infected: 2 of 4 white chin baquiros (Tayassu pecari); 1 of 3 white tail deers (Odocoileus virginianus) and 1 of 2 foxes (Cerdocyon thous) and of small size: 1 of 3 lapas (Cuniculus paca) and 2 of 4 curies=guinea pigs (Cavia aperea) captured in mountain rural areas associated to sylvatic environments at the northeast of the Anzoategui State. The seven infected animals showed flagellates that were identified as T. cruzi showing: pleomorphism in the blood stream tripomastigotes, intracellular multiplicative amastigote forms, wide histotropism in mammals and polymorphic stages developed in triatomines, typically of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi. As far as to the knowledge of the authors, these results represent the first study in Venezuela of the parasitological behavior of T. cruzi isolates obtained from cinegetic mammals and the epidemiological risks that represent their frequent consumption of infected meat and zootherapy medicaments in the infection and transmission of the parasite.