Parasitologia hungarica

Author(s): Horváth, Gy., Vetési, F. & Kemenes, F.
Title: Pathogenicity of Trypanosoma equiperdum to different rodents. II. Susceptibility of the common vole (Microtus arvalis)
Title: A Trypanosoma equiperdum különböző rágcsálókkal szembeni fertőzőképessége. II. A mezei pocok (Microtus arvalis) fogékonysága
Year: 1987
Volume: 20
Pages: 33-39.

Abstract: A total of 184 voles and 120 albino mice were infected intraperitoneally (and sometimes subcutaneously) with blood taken from trypanosome-infected albino mice in agony. Five to 25% of voles infected with a rather large dose (2-4 × 10000000 trypanosomes) died, whereas those treated with smaller doses survived. In voles killed on PI days 4-5 there was a 6- to 10-fold, whereas in voles surviving a stronger infection a 10- to 18-fold splenomegaly, as compared to uninfected control litter mates killed at the same time. Albino mice were killed by smaller doses of trypanosomes in a few days’ time. At the time of death they had an only 2- to 4-fold splenomegaly. In the blood of the surviving voles the trypanosomes occasionally persisted for a month, and in their serum the trypanosomal antibodies were demonstrable for 3 months. Histopathological examination revealed cell proliferation in the spleen and pronounced activation of the macrophages. Thus, the vole has proved to be a suitable experimental model tor detailed studies on the pathomechanism of T. equiperdum infection, and primarily on the successful defence mechanism of the organism.
Keywords: Trypanosoma equiperdum, vole, resistant rodent, enlargement of spleen, macrophag activation

Journal: Parasitologia Hungarica
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 0303-688X
Publisher: Kontakt Studió, Budapest
Editor(s): K. Murai, É., Thoma, A., Matskási, I. & Bottyán, O.