TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI - COMPROMISE OF REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM IN ACUTE MURINEINFECTION

Infection of isolated organs of the reproductive system by Trypanosoma cruzi has been described since Chagas' disease was first studied. A d etailed histopathological analysis of mice acutely infected with T. cr uzi CL strain showed colonization of male (preputial glands and skin, penis, testicular albuginea, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle s, prostate, coagulative, bulbo urethral and urethral glands) and fema le (vagina, uterus, oviduct, ovary, mesovary, clitoris and mammary gla nds) structures of the reproductive system. The results presented here in demonstrated invasion of epithelial cells, pronounced colonization of the epididymis and male genital adnexa, but absence of parasitism i n penile corpora cavernosa. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.