Abstract

Variability of mixed Trypanosoma cruzi congenital infection in Chile in twenty one congenital samples of Chagas disease is reported. Recognition of infecting strains was performed by minicircle hybridization tests. Seven newborns with double infection were found. Trypanosoma cruzi TcII and TcV lineages were the most frequent in single and mixed infections. With these results we pretend to understand the epidemiological significance of the T. cruzi lineages for which the placenta does not seem to represent an actual barrier in congenital infections. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.