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.