Effect of Trypanosoma lewisi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) on the infection of white rats with Taxoplasma gondii (Eucoccidia: Sarcocystidae) oocysts

White rats were inoculated with 10(6) trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma lewisi, simultaneously or two days before and after inoculation with 10(5) oocysts of T. gondii. A greater number of cysts was found in the brain of the animals having concomitant inoculations, as compared with rats inoculated with either one of the two parasites. An apparent immunosuppressive effect is likely. Since both organisms can be found in rat, it is possible that infections with T. lewisi, could make this rodent another intermediate host for Toxoplasma infections.