Molecular characterization of Mexican stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi using total DNA

Seventeen Mexican Trypanosoma cruzi stocks and five South American reference strains were analyzed by Hind III restriction fragment length polymorphisms associated with ribosomal RNA gene spacers and by HinfI digestion patterns of total DNA. Our findings demonstrate the occurrence of genetic heterogeneity within these stocks. Hierarchic and non-hierarchic clustering of these molecular characters allowed the formation of groups that correlate with the geographic origin of the stocks. The HinfI digestion pattern permitted the identification of DNA fragments from the kinetoplast maxi-circles, and therefore represents a simple and convenient method for conducting epidemiologic surveys in laboratories in developing countries.