Histopathologic analysis of visceral organs of Wistar rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi

• Grant number: 13/07135-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Bernadete Rozza
• Grantee: Ana Cláudia Martins da Silva Roberto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is a disease of humans and domestic animals resulting from infection with the flagellated parasite Trypanosoma genus. The infection is variable and depends on the species involved and the trypanosome host affected (WATKINS, 1971; BISWAS, et al., 2001; VERDILLO, et al., 2012). T. evansi can be transmitted by blood sucking insects of the families Tabanidae and Stomoxidae and the Vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) (TUNTASUVAN, et al., 2000; SILVA, et al., 2012). The disease caused by T. evansi is characterized by rapid weight loss, intermittent fever, variable degrees of anemia, edema of the hind limbs and lower body and progressive weakness. At necropsy, we can see pale mucous membranes, edema of the subcutaneous tissue and lymphoid organs and serous atrophy of fat, microscopically; most organs show marked proliferative disorders (OHAERI, 2010). There are few reports on the histopathological changes observed in visceral organs in animals experimentally infected with T. evansi (Biswas, et al., 2001) particularly in rats, experimental models that are important to better understand the disease (SILVA, et al., 2007; SILVA, et al., 2009).This work aims to analyze in Wistar rats experimentally infected with T. evansi histopathological changes in the following organs: heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, and popliteal lymph node and determine the parasitemia of infected animals during the experimental period. (AU)