Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Blood of the Lizard Microlophus atacamensis: Understanding the T. cruzi Cycle in a Coastal Island of the Atacama Desert

<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease, is primarily transmitted through blood-sucking insects and infects mammalian and some reptilian hosts. In Chile, insects of the <i>Mepraia</i> genus are key vectors of <i>T. cruzi</i> in its wild transmission cycle. High prevalence and mixed infection of <i>T. cruzi</i> lineages have been reported in a <i>Mepraia</i> population on Santa María Island in the Atacama Desert. However, no small mammals have been reported. The island's vertebrate community is dominated by the lizard <i>Microlophus atacamensis</i> and marine and scavenger birds. This study aimed to research blood samples of <i>M. atacamensis</i> for the presence of <i>T. cruzi</i> DNA (kDNA and satDNA) using conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and estimate parasitemia. Our findings reveal that 39.4% of 33 individuals were positive with both cPCR and qPCR, while when assessing infection with either technique, it rises up to 81.8%. These findings confirm that <i>M. atacamensis</i> is a host of <i>T. cruzi</i>, suggesting its potential role as a key reservoir in the island's transmission cycle. This study provides new insights into the life cycle of <i>T. cruzi</i> in the coastal Atacama Desert, highlighting the importance of reptiles in the epidemiology of this parasite.