Virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi from vector and reservoir in in natura açaí pulp resulting in food-borne acute Chagas disease at Pará State, Brazil

Abstract Background In recent decades some outbreaks of food-borne acute Chagas disease (ACD) in humans were identified by clinical and epidemiological characterization after association through the ingestion of acai pulp probably contaminated with Trypanosoma cruzi . Whereas Belem and Abaetetuba stood out as important risk regions for disease transmission, the importance of Rhodnius pictipes , and Philander opossum for the biological cycle of T. cruzi , and data from agribusiness market of acai, to study T. cruzi from vector and reservoir of the Brazilian Amazon region is critical for this context. Thus, the purpose of this study was to verify the infective capacity and the virulence of T. cruzi in acai pulp from vector and reservoir at Para State experimentally. Methods 10 5 T. cruzi I in in natura acai pulp from Belem at Para State, at room temperature, after forced sieving, by intraperitoneal, gavage or oral route of inoculation in B6.129S7Rag1 −/−tmMom /J Unib allowed food-borne ACD analysis using common light microscopy. Principal findings T. cruzi in in natura acai pulp from R. pictipes (Val-De-Cans Forest, Belem, and Ajuai River, Abaetetuba, Para), and P. opossum (Combu Island, Belem, Para) caused ACD and death between 17 and 52 days after experimental infections in murine immunodeficient hosts. Conclusions T. cruzi from different sources and locations at Para State in in natura acai pulp retained its infective capacity and virulence, and can cause new outbreaks of ACD by oral transmission. Additionally, quality basic education will facilitate efficient hygiene practices throughout the acai productive chain can eradicate food-borne ACD in the coming decades.