SKELETAL-MUSCLE ULTRASTRUCTURAL PATHOLOGY IN SERINUS-CANARIUS INFECTED WITH PLASMODIUM-CATHEMERIUM

Serinus canarius infected with Plasmodium cathemerium was used as an a nimal model in order to study the skeletal muscle compromise in malari a. Pectoral muscle biopsies were obtained from 7 infected female birds . The transmission electron microscopic study showed alterations of co ntractile and sarcotubular systems, mitochondrial abnormalities, lysos omal proliferation and nuclear pyknosis. The sarcolemma looked disrupt ed and separated from the necrotic fibres. Capillary abnormalities inc luded endothelial degeneration with proliferation of lysosomal structu res, penetration of endothelial cell by the parasites and necrosis. A mononuclear cell infiltrate formed by plasmocytes, lymphocytes and mac rophages was observed. This investigation shows that skeletal muscle i s an important target tissue for some malaria parasites.