| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
We have collected in Bolivia 212 stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi from domestic transmission cycles and
have assayed for nine enzyme systems (11 gene loci). Only a few different isozyme profiles exist,
without recombination between them, a situation also encountered in previous Bolivian samples. The
212 stocks, combined with 207 stocks previously studied, have been analysed to uncover any spatial
patterns. The frequency of heterozygous strains (2 and 2a) decreases westwards and with increasing
altitude. Given that longitude and altitude are correlated with each other, it is not possible to decide
which of these two geographic variables is the relevant one, or if both are. These associations might be
due to climatic factors. Studies by other authors have shown, however, that heterozygous strains are
rare or absent in the Amazon Basin, which is at low altitude. | |
