Out of 87 opossums, Didelphis albiventris, captured in the Bambuí area (Minas Gerais State), 32 (36,7%) were found infected by Trypanosoma cruzi; the rates varied according to whether the specimens originated from sylvan, rural peridomiciliar or urban surroudings, being 34.9, 81.8 and 7.7 respectively. From 20 of the infected opossums the anal glands were repeatedly examined and found positive in only one (5%) specimen (GA 9), with 7 positive examinations out of 17 performed through and 18-months periods. Material from these glands produced patent parasitemia in opossums and sub-patent infection in mice. Isolates from the opossum GA 9, abtained through xenodiagnoses and hemocultures and from cultures of the infected anal glands fitted into zymodeme Z1.
Trypanosoma cruzi; anal glands; opossum; isoenzyme