Incomplete recruitment of protective T cells is associated with Trypanosoma cruzi persistence in the mouse colon.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Following T cell mediated suppression of the acute phase infection, this intracellular eukaryotic pathogen persists long-term in a limited sub-set of tissues at extremely low-levels. The reasons for this tissue-specific chronicity are not understood. Using a dual bioluminescent:fluorescent reporter strain and highly sensitive tissue imaging that allows experimental infections to be...