BCG-induced resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infections.

Administration of BCG induced in mice a clear resistance to a challenge infection with bloodstream trypomastigotes from two Trypanosoma cruzi strains. This finding represents a further demonstration that cell mediated immunity plays a definite role in the immune response in experimental Chagas' disease. "In vitro" experiments have shown that BCG-activated mouse macrophages are able to inhibit the development of T. cruzi intracellular stages, although no microbicidal effect could be detected. The controversial results on BCG effect in T. cruzi infections reported in the literature had been reviewed and discussed.