Trypanosoma vivax in Brazil

Abstract

A water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) from the vicinity of the city of Belém was found infected with Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax viennei. The strain was isolated in sheep and produced a similar type of infection to that previously described in cattle and sheep by other workers in South America. Although this is apparently the first published report of T. (D.) vivax viennei in Brazil, unpublished records show that this parasite has probably been present in the country for at least 35 years. Attention is drawn to the significance of the existence of this trypanosome in a region where cattle breeding is of economic importance. A mensural analysis of T. (D.) vivax viennei indicates that it was most probably imported with cattle from West Africa.