Based on phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA sequences and clade taxon composition, this paper adopts a biogeographical approach to understanding the evolutionary relationships of the human and primate infective trypanosomes, Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei, T. rangeli and T. cyclops. Results indicate that these parasites have divergent origins and fundamentally different patterns of evolution. T. c...

Malaria is still a primary health problem in Colombia. The locality of Tierradentro is situated in the municipality of Montelíbano, Córdoba, in the northwest of Colombia, and has one of the highest annual parasite index of malaria nationwide. However, the vectors involved in malaria transmission in this locality have not yet been identified. In this study, the local anthropophilic Anopheles com...

A sialidase (EC 3.2.1.18) from the non-pathogenic Trypanosoma rangeli, TrSA, has been shown to exert trans-sialidase activity after mutation of five specific amino acids in the active site (M96V, A98P, S120Y, G249Y, Q284P) to form the so-called TrSA5mut enzyme. By computational and hypothesis driven approaches additional mutations enhancing the trans-sialidase activity have been suggested. In t...

The growth inhibitory effects of six guanine and guanosine analogs, 3-deazaguanine (compound 1); 3-deazaguanosine (compound 2); 6-aminoallopurinol (compound 3); 9-beta-xylofuranosyl guanine (compound 4); a ribosylated derivative of compound 3, 6-aminopyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidin-4-one (compound 5); and 5-aminoformycin B (compound 6), were tested against some pathogenic members of the family of Amer...

This is the first record of immature stages of species belonging to the subgenus Nyssorhynchus (Blanchard) in eutrophized breeding habitats. Larvae of Anopheles (Nys.) evansae (Brethes), Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) rangeli (Gabaldon et al), Culex nigripalpus (Theobald) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected in a rural eutrophized dam in Rio de Janeiro State, in South...

A total of 206 serum samples from children (3-14 years old) living in the Amador County (La Chorrera District, Province of Panama) were screened by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi. Positive sera were confirmed by recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. The presence of blood trypano...

The sylvatic triatomine Rhodnius pallescens is considered to be the most important and widespread vector of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in Panama. However, its behavior and biological characteristics have only been partially investigated. Thus, to achieve sustainable and efficient control over Chagas disease in Panama, a better understanding of the ecology and biology of R. palles...