Trypanosoma cruzi population variability in Colombia: possible co-evolution in different vector species

Interest has grown during the last two decades in knowing about the geographical distribution of different Trypanosoma cruzi genotypes and their association with domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles of Chagas' disease. On the other hand, there is interest in knowing about vector mechanisms favouring or impeding these parasite populations' transmission, amongst which one can highlight insect immune factors or the presence of other microorganisms in the intestinal tract which could alter the course of T cruzi infection. Even though T. cruzi's co-evolution with its vectors continues being a working hypothesis in different Latin-American countries, the present review presents studies about the variability of T cruzi populations in Colombia, the parasite's genotype interactions with its vectors and discusses possible co-evolutionary relationships between T cruzi and the vector, as well those which have been detected in T. rangeli/Rhodnius interaction.