The life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi under axenic conditions.

The complete life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi under germfree (GF) conditions was achieved. The Reduvidae insects Dipetalogaster maximus, reared under axenic conditions were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, strain CL, by feeding on GF infected mice. Axenic trypomastigotes from macerated gnotobiotic insects were used to infect GF and conventional (CV) mice by intraperitoneal, ocular, and oral routes. Infection, followed by blood parasitemia, was obtained in almost all the cases. However, Chagas' disease was more severe in GF animals when compared with CV mice.