[Characteristics of toxoplasmosis-induced myocarditis in experimental peroral infection]

In oral infection with cysts and oocysts of strain 131 Toxoplasma gondii, specific interstitial productive myocarditis with involvement of the endo- and pericardium developed in albino mice and guinea pigs in the acute stage of the process. Toxoplasmic myocarditis terminated in focal cardiosclerosis. The intensity of cardiac affection was higher in oral infection with toxoplasm oocysts than in infection with cysts than in infection with cysts. Unabating persistence of toxoplasms in the myocardium of the infected animals after subsidence of acute inflammatory phenomena was revealed (cysts in the myocardium).