EXPERIMENTAL CHAGAS-DISEASE IN A SOUTH-AMERICAN PRIMATE (CEBUS SP)

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (6) , 667-672
Abstract
Two 1 yr old Cebus sp. monkeys infected with the Argentine strain of Trypanosoma cruzi by the conjunctival route employing metacyclic forms of the parasite, obtained from ejecta of T. infectans. Both animals developed parasitemia detected by xenodiagnosis, without any overt acute disease and with serological conversion. After 9-10 mo. of infection, both animals developed significant ECG abonomalities. One animal died spontaneously and the other was sacrificed. At necropsy, both animals presented significant megacolon. Severe thinning of the intestinal wall was observed without inflammatory lesions and with preservation of the parasympathetic plexus. Histologic studies revealed fibrotic lesions in the myocardium; lymphocytic infiltrates were found in infrequent and small foci, but no pseudocystic forms containing parasites were observed. Cebus sp. may be a useful experimental model for some major aspects of chronic Chagas disease in man.