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Electrocardiographic changes in experimental chronic murine Chagas' disease
Abstract:
An electrocardiographic study was performed on 26 AKR and 32 A/J inbred mice and on 100 Swiss outbred mice, chronically infected with different strains of T. cruzi, characterized as Types I, II and III. The incidence of electrocardiographic alterations in AKR mice was of 87.0%, 80.0% and 83.3% respectively for infection with the Type I, Type II and Type III strains of T. cruzi. In A/J mice the incidence of electrocardiographic alterations was 100% in the infection with the Type I and Type III strains and 26.1% with the Type II strain of T. cruzi. In Swiss mice the electrocardiographic alterations occurred in 53.5% of the mice infected with the Type II strain and in 71.4% of those infected with the Type III strain of T. cruzi. The most frequent electrocardiographic alterations in chronically infected mice, independently of mouse or T. cruzi strain, were first degree AV block, intraventricular conduction abnormalities, sinus tachycardia and bradycardia. The predominant alterations caused by each of the T. cruzi strains varied according to mouse strain. In A/J mice, the electrocardiographic alterations were more frequent in those animals infected with Type I and III strains of T. cruzi and in Swiss mice the alterations were more frequent in those infected with the Type III strain. The results presented in this study demonstrate that the murine model is suitable for electrocardiographic studies related to the heart lesions that occur in Chagas' disease.
Insights
This study shows that electrocardiographic alterations in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) vary by mouse strain and T. cruzi type. The murine model effectively reveals cardiac changes associated with Chagas
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), can lead to significant cardiac lesions.
- Electrocardiography (ECG) is a crucial diagnostic tool for assessing cardiac function.
- Murine models are frequently used to study infectious diseases and their effects on the cardiovascular system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence and types of electrocardiographic alterations in different mouse strains infected with various T. cruzi strains.
- To determine the suitability of the murine model for studying T. cruzi-induced cardiac pathology.
Main Methods:
- Electrocardiographic studies were conducted on AKR, A/J inbred mice, and Swiss outbred mice.
- Mice were chronically infected with T. cruzi strains classified as Type I, II, and III.
- Incidence and types of ECG alterations were recorded and analyzed across different mouse and T. cruzi strain combinations.
Main Results:
- High incidence of ECG alterations observed in AKR mice (80-87%) and A/J mice (26-100%) depending on T. cruzi strain.
- Swiss mice showed ECG alterations in 53.5% (Type II) and 71.4% (Type III) of infections.
- Common alterations included first-degree AV block, intraventricular conduction abnormalities, sinus tachycardia, and bradycardia, with variations based on host-parasite interactions.
Conclusions:
- The type of T. cruzi strain and the mouse strain significantly influence the occurrence and pattern of ECG alterations.
- Specific T. cruzi strains (Type I and III) induced more frequent alterations in A/J mice, while Type III was more prevalent in Swiss mice.
- The murine model is a valuable tool for investigating the electrocardiographic manifestations of cardiac lesions in Chagas' disease.