Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 19. (Budapest, 1986)
Parasit hang. 19. 1986 The pathogenicity of Trypanosoma equiperdum to different rodents. I. Susceptibility of laboratory white mice and rats Dr. Ferenc KEMENES — Dr. Györgyi HORVÁTH PHYLAXIA Veterinary Biologicals Co., Budapest — Department of General Zoology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary "The pathogenecity of Trypanosoma equiperdum to different rodents. I. Susceptibility of laboratory white mice and rats" - Kemenes. F. - Horváth, Gy. - Parasit, hung., 19_: 19-26. 1986. ABSTRACT. The parenteral inoculation of Trypanosoma equiperdum strain induces fatal septicaemia with a 2- to 5-fold enlargement of the spleen. Intraperitoneal^ inoculated white mice and rats died sooner and more uniformly than those inoculated subcutaneously. Inbred mice (7 different strains) were as susceptible as the conventional Swiss mice. Mice being in an advanced stage of pregnancy and having a greater body mass died one or two days later. However, in their offspring delivered before term trypanosomes were not demonstrable. The fatal septicaemia of susceptible mice could be prolonged with 2 to 4 days if they were given antitrypanosomal rabbit immune sera or convalescent sera of resistant rodents. Infection did not even take place in the presence of high antibody levels. Rats are as susceptible as mice are. To produce trypanoaome antigen, it is advisable to inoculate rats with ÍO^-IO 7 trypanosomes subcutaneously. KEY WORDS. Trypanosoma equiperdum, mouse, rat, susceptibility, survival prolongation. Most of the Trypanosoma strains have been maintained in mice (CLAYTON et al., 1980; DIFF LEY et al., 1980; FELDMANN, 1963; FRIEBEL, 1952; HENIGST, 1955; JENNINGS et al., 1978; MARCUSE, WIGAND and PIROTH, 1964; MÜHLPFFORDT, 1964) and in rats (JAEGER and MILLER, 1960; KOLODNY, 1939; LLNDSLEY et al. , 1980; MURRAY et al. , 1974). Also Trypanosoma equiperdum can be maintained in rodents (PACHANIAN, 1963); however, it is so pathogenic that it kills these animals 2-12 days post-infection (PI). This is why the preparation of T. equiperdum antigen has long been performed by bleeding large-bodied, agonizing rats. In the present paper the experimental trypanosomosi s of these highly susceptible rodents, the methods of infection, the titrations of trypanosomes, and their survival in carcases or at +4°C are reported, together with experiments directed at the prolongation of infection. A detailed description of the mouse protection procedures is also given. MATERIALS AND METHODS The T. equiperdum strain originates from the Pasteur Institue, Paris, where it has been maintained since 1906. In the United States this strain is known as strain Texas. Swiss conventional, random-bred white mice (Mu_s_mu s cuius) of both sexes, 25 to 30 g in body mass, and, on certain occasions, 7 different kinds of inbred stock, and white Wistar rats ^R_ajtaj3_rattu_s) were used. In this experiment white mice represent conventional Swiss mice.
