EFFECT OF GANGLIOSIDES ON TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI INFECTION IN MICE

Albino Swiss male mice were inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi, Tulahue n strain trypomastigotes, and separated into three groups: control, wi thout treatment; control, treated with Nifurtimox 25 mg/day; and exper imental, treated with total brain gangliosides 1 mg/day, intramuscular . The treatment was started immediately after infection and maintained for 4 weeks. Parasitemia was determined twice a week and histopatholo gical analyses of hearts were performed. The parasitemia was significa ntly lowered by the ganglioside treatment. All untreated mice died by day 14 post infection. Survival at day 30 was 96% for mice in the expe rimental group. Hearts from untreated animals showed acute chagasic my ocarditis, while those from mice treated with gangliosides presented o nly minor mononuclear infiltration. The effect of gangliosides is prob ably due to interference of parasite penetration into the host cells.