Modes of association of Trypanosoma cruzi with the intestinal tract of the vector Triatoma infestans

The interface between Trypanosoma cruzi and two regions of the intestinal tract of reduviid bugs, the small intestine and the rectum, was investigated by electron microscopy. The mode of association of the trypanosomes with the midgut surface differs fundamentally from that in the rectum, the preferred site of colonisation by T. cruzi. The parasites caused no detrimental changes in the extracellular membrane layers, microvilli or epithelial cells. Parasites resided mainly at the border of the gut contents, also regularly showing parasite–parasite interdigitations. In regions in which the extracellular membrane layers were absent or only weakly developed, trypanosome bodies or flagella occasionally could be found inserted shallowly between the tips of the microvilli. Since there were usually no ultrastructural modifications of the cell body and/or flagellum associated with attachment, there is apparently no strong attachment of the flagellates to the wall of the midgut. In the rectal lumen the flagellates also interdigitated with each other and on the rectal wall T. cruzi was intimately attached to the rectal cuticle lining. At the attachment site flagella were enlarged and sometimes contained electron-dense, hemidesmosome-like material beneath the plasma membrane.