Lesions involving the sympathetic (para-vertebral ganglia)
and para-sympathetic ganglia of intestines (Auerbach plexus)
and heart (right atrial ganglia) were comparatively analyzed
in mice infected with either of three different strain types
of Trypanosoma cruzi, during acute and chronic infection,
in an attempt to understand the influence of parasite strain
in causing autonomic nervous system pathology. Ganglionar
involvement with neuronal destruction appeared related to
inflammation, which most of the times extended from
neighboring adipose and cardiac, smooth and striated muscular
tissues. Intraganglionic parasitism was exceptional.
Inflammation involving peripheral nervous tissue exhibited a
focal character and its variability in the several groups
examined appeared unpredictable. Although lesions were
generally more severe with the Y strain, comparative
qualitative study did not allow the conclusion, under the
present experimental conditions, that one strain was more
pathogenic to the autonomic nervous system than others. No
special tropism of the parasites from any strain toward
autonomic ganglia was disclosed.
