[First report on Neotoma micropus (Rodentia) as a reservoir of Trypanosoma cruzi in Mexico]

Using xenodiagnosis, two (8.0%) of 25 woodrats Neotoma micropus were found infected with tripanosome parasite in Vaquerias, a village in Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. The triatomine species developing infective metacyclic trypanosomes at week 12th were Triatoma pallidipennis, T. infestans and T. gerstaeckeri. Experimental infections using infected dejections were successfully conducted on laboratory mice (CD1 strain) confirming the vertebrate cycle of Trypanosome cruzi. The biological characterization of T. cruzi strains was demonstrated based on: 1) Triatomine developmental cycle. 2) A vertebrate host parasitic period up to 25-33 post-infection days, and. 3) Typical morphology of bloodstream trypomastigotes and amastigotes from myocardial nest. This is the first report of T. cruzi biologically characterized in Nuevo Leon, as well as a new report of N. micropus, increasing the list of reservoir hosts in Mexico.