The presence in Bolivia of two distinct zymodemes of Trypanosoma cruzi, circulating sympatrically in a domestic transmission cycle.

The enzyme profiles of 109 Bolivian stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi were determined by cellulose acetate electrophoresis using the four enzymes: malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate decarboxylating) (NADP+) (E.C.1.1.1.40, ME), phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.44, 6PGDH), phosphoglucomutase (E.C.2.7.5.1, PGM) and glucosephosphate isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.9, GPI). As previously, two principal zymodemes were found sympatrically. Both were isolated from man, one appeared to be more frequent at high altitude, the other appeared to be more frequent at low altitude. These results agree with our previous hypothesis on the genetics of T. cruzi (diploidy, lack of actual sexuality).