Key result
Dogs in the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease exhibited mostly normal myocardium with small foci of mild, chronic myocarditis, lacking the microvascular lesions seen in acute infection.
Why the study?
Does Trypanosoma cruzi infection during the indeterminate phase cause progressive cardiac damage in a canine model?
Population
7 mongrel dogs, including 6 inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi and 1 non-infected control.
Comparison
Intraperitoneal inoculation with Trypanosoma… vs Non-infected control dog.
Design
Preclinical
Follow-up
up to 3.5 years
Authors
Loading...
Supports equilibrium without progressive damage in canine indeterminate Chagas; leaves open human translation.
Does Trypanosoma cruzi infection during the indeterminate phase cause progressive cardiac damage in a canine model?
The indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease in the canine model represents a stage of host-parasite equilibrium with mild, self-limited focal myocarditis rather than progressive cardiac damage.
Andrade et al. (1997) studied Chagas' disease (n=7). Trypanosoma cruzi infection vs. Noninfected control was evaluated on Cardiac histologic and ultrastructural findings. Dogs in the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease exhibited mostly normal myocardium with small foci of mild, chronic myocarditis, lacking the microvascular lesions seen in acute infection.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: