Experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection in the goat II: pathology

Abstract

Infection of male goats aged 8–10 months with 5000 or 50 000 organisms of a Mindanao strain of Trypanosoma evansi was observed over a period of 90 days. The infection induced clinical disease which was lethal, especially at the higher dose rate. Lesions were more acute in goats that received the higher dose. Gross and microscopical changes were not pathognomonic, except in the presence of demonstrable trypanosomes. At necropsy, a combination of lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, testicular enlargement, anaemic signs and consolidation of the anterior lobes of the lungs was suggestive of surra. Testicular changes, especially aspermia, indicated probable infertility. The cytopathology of the lungs, liver, intestine, kidneys, testes, bone marrow, brain and other organs was immunological in nature, characterized by mononuclear infiltration of interstitial tissues, with minor cellular damage and the presence of trypanosomes. B- and T- cell responses were observed in the lymphatic system, but the findings indicated immunosuppression in the lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow during the third month after infection. Exudative inflammatory changes were mild. It is suggested that the cytopathology of most haemophilic trypanosomal infections is predominantly an immunological process.