[Experimental hepatic amebiasis: acute inflammation in the rat]

Rat livers inoculated intraportally with trophozoites of E. histolytica were studied by light and electron microscopy. At one hour post-inoculation, trophozoites were localized at the hepatic sinusoids without inflammatory reaction and only slight vascular congestion. From two hours post-inoculation, trophozoites were associated with small inflammatory foci distributed at random. At three to four hours, trophozoites showed signs of cellular damage. After eight hours, no parasites were seen and only some lymphoplasmocytic infiltration were detected. It is suggested that in the experimental hepatic amebic infection in the rat the acuta inflammatory reaction associated to trophozoites plays a role in the parasite rejection.