ABSTRACT
In an attempt to study the mechanisms of heart damage in African trypanosomiasis; a group of dogs were infected with Trypanosoma brucei. The dogs developed an actue disease syndrome; and if not treated became terminally sick during the fourth week of infection. Post mortem and light microscopic examination demonstrated severe pancarditis involving the musculature; valves; vasculature and the conducting system. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the histological findings and in addition revealed other changes in the heart. These included distention of myocardial cells with fluid; swelling of mitochondria and damage to their cristal membranes; and lipid deposition. Cellular infiltration; fibrin deposition; occluded capillaries and damaged autonomic nerve gagnlia were abserved. The changes in muscle cells; vasculature and nerve tissue may have been due to excessive inflammatory reactions caused bvy biologically active substances generated by trypanosomes themselves; or by immunological reactio;ns between trypanosomes and inflitrating cells. Such changes exacerbated the severity of heart damage; and possibly death due to heart failure
