Studies on Leishmaniasis in the Golden Hamster

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Abstract
Hamster liver, spleen, kidney and adrenal weights increased over a 55-day period of infection with Leishmania donovani. Liver hypertrophy was not associated with any marked change in total nitrogen content (dry weight). Massive fascial and visceral edema was a common terminal phenomenon. The latter was related to liver damage and kidney failure. After 20 days of infection, the adrenal cortex exhibited progressive degenerative changes concomitant with hypertrophy of this organ. Adrenal weight body weight ratios of infected hamsters were approximately 50% greater than those of homologous spleen-inoculated and untreated controls. Leishmaniasis in the hamster shows promise as a tool for the study of the "stress" phenomenon in infectious disease.