Resumen

CASTILLO-VIGIL, Amparo et al. Susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi to different Costa Rican snake venoms. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2008, vol.48, n.2, pp.135-144. ISSN 1690-4648.

The trypanocide effect of venoms from five Costa Rican species of snakes was evaluated against two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi and their cellular toxic effects were likewise observed. The venoms of Bothrops asper, Bothriechis schlegelii, Crotalus durissus durissus, Atropoide nummifer and A. picadoi showed evident trypanocide action against epimastigotes, amastigotes and trypomastigotes. The venoms of B. asper and B. schlegelii were shown to be the most active against the epimastigotes of the CL strain, whereas those of B. asper and A. nummifer were more effective against the epimastigotes of the Jennifer strain. The venoms of B. schlegelii and C.d. durissus, at the lowest concentrations of 2.5 μg/mL, were able to trigger a proliferative effect on Vero cells and epimastigotes of the CL strain, respectively. The IC₅₀ values showed that lower amounts of venoms are necessary in order to inhibit amastigotes as compared to epimastigotes. The venoms of B. asper and B. schlegelii exhibited the highest activity against amastigotes of both T. cruzi strains. All venoms were able to arrest motility of blood trypomastigotes of the GA strain at different times and the most active in this case was A. nummifer venom. The toxic effects of the venoms measured by the degree of apoptosis, necrosis and cell proliferation that they produced showed that all these events occur and are related to the type of venom, its concentration and exposure time.

Palabras clave : Trypanosoma cruzi; snake venom; trypanocidal action; cell death; Costa Rica.