Interaction of epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi with chicken macrophages in vitro.

Chicken macrophages, obtained by cultivation of blood monocytes, were infected with epimastigote and bloodstream trypomastigotes of the Y and the CL strains of Trypanosoma cruzi. The percentage of infected cells and the mean number of parasites per cell were determined after 2, 6, 12 and 24 h of parasite-cell contact. After 6 h of contact about 80% and 40% of the macrophages were infected by trypomastigotes of the Y and CL strains respectively. After longer periods of contact almost all macrophages were infected by Y trypomastigotes while only about 60% were infected by those of the CL strain. After 2 h of contact almost all macrophages were infected by CL epimastigotes while only about 50% were infected by Y epimastigotes. After 6 h of contact almost all macrophages were infected by epimastigotes of both strains. These results are discussed taking into consideration differences between parasites of the two strains and between the two developmental stages of the T. cruzi lifecycle.