Experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection in deer mice: splenic changes

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Immunology
• Parasitology

Background:

• Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis.
• Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are used as a model organism in biomedical research.
• Understanding host-parasite interactions is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathological effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection in deer mice.
• To characterize the cellular responses and tissue lesions induced by the parasite.

Main Methods:

• Forty deer mice were experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei.
• Animals were observed for 33 to 83 days post-inoculation.
• Tissues were examined to identify pathological changes and cellular infiltrates.

Main Results:

• A prominent finding was extensive plasma cell infiltration across various tissues.
• Spleen exhibited disrupted periarteriolar lymphocytic sheaths and thickened red pulp cords.
• Lymph nodes were largely replaced by plasma cells, with germinal center hyperplasia and macrophage proliferation.
• The nervous system displayed meningoencephalitis characterized by plasma cell accumulation.

Conclusions:

• Trypanosoma brucei infection induces a pronounced plasma cell response in deer mice.
• These cellular infiltrates are associated with significant histopathological changes in lymphoid organs and the central nervous system.
• Deer mice serve as a relevant model for studying the immunopathology of trypanosomiasis.