Isoenzymes of Trypanosoma rangeli stocks and their relation to other trypanosomes transmitted by triatomine bugs.

Culture forms of three trypanosome species, Trypanosoma rangeli, T conorhini and T. cruzi, have been compared isoenzymatically by isoelectrofocusing. Of 9 enzymes examined, three: nonspecific esterase (NSE), phosphoglucomutase (PGM) and glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI), showed species specific enzyme profiles. Little isoenzymatic variation was found amongst the 14 T. rangeli stocks examined. Two of them were identified as T. cruzi of Group I demonstrating the necessity of a clear identification of trypanosome populations isolated from bugs in areas endemic for T. rangeli and T. cruzi. In extracts of artificially mixed cultures of T. rangeli and T. cruzi only the patterns of NSE showed clearly the specific bands of both species. The NSE should be tested for the detection of mixed infections under natural conditions.