Análisis de la susceptibilidad de una línea celular de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) a la infección con Leishmania (L) chagasi y Leishmania (V) braziliensis

Abstract

The susceptibility of culture cells derived from embryonic tissues of Aedes aegypti to the infection with Leishmania (L) chagasi and Leishmania (V) braziliensis was evaluated. Methodology: These parasites are etiological agents of American visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. Selected cells of Aedes aegypti were maintained in culture medium Grace/L15, supplement with 15% bovine fetal serum, 5,4 mg/ml of albendazol and an antibiotic mixture and incubated at an average temperature of 26°C. The cultures were inoculated with metacyclic promastigotes of the strain MH/ CO/84/CI-044B of L. chagasi and the strain HOM/BR752903 of L. braziliensis in a concentration of 10 parasites by cell. The J774 cell line was used as positive control of infection. Results: The highest percentage of infection represented as the number of amastigotes per cell in A. aegyti cell cultures and in the J774 cell line were obtained on days 6 and 9 post-infection. The results showed interaction, internalization and maturation in vitro of the two species of the parasite in the cells of a non-vector insect of Leishmania. Infected A. aegypti cells showed changes in its area because of the influence of the parasites that differ significantly (P <0.05) compared to not infected cells. Conclusion: Cell cultures from A. aegypti emerge as a new in vitro model for the study of the biological cycle of L. chagasi and L. braziliensis.