This study reports the effects of Trypanosoma cruzi
infection induced in C3H/He male and female mice born to
chagasic mice. An experimental model was established infecting
female C3H/He mice with a low virulent T. cruzi clone. In this
model, mating, fertilization, pregnancy evolution and delivery
was carried out successfully. The offspring was infected at
four, six and eigth weeks of age. The results showed that the
offspring born to chagasic mothers present decreased
resistance to acquired T. cruzi infection. This decreased
resistance was expressed by higher levels of parasitaemia and
higher mortality rates in offspring born to chagasic mothers
than in controls. Age and sex were shown to be important
factors of this phenomenon.
