Correlation between Presence of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in Heart Tissue of Baboons and Cynomolgus Monkeys, and Lymphocytic Myocarditis

Abstract

Abstract. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, preferentially infects cardiac and digestive tissues. Baboons living in Texas (Papio hamadryas) and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) have been reported to be infected naturally with T. cruzi. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed cases of animals that were diagnosed with lymphocytic myocarditis and used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method (S36/S35 primer set) to amplify T. cruzi DNA from archived frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cardiac tissues. We show that the PCR method is applicable in archived frozen and FFPE tissues and the sensitivity is in the femtogram range. A positive correlation between PCR positivity and lymphocytic myocarditis in both baboons and cynomolgus monkeys is shown. We also show epicarditis as a common finding in animals infected with T. cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Non-Human Primates

“…Additionally, Pisharath et al [6] while evaluating T. cruzi naturally infected cynomolgus macaques demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that the inflammatory infiltrate from cardiac tissue had mild to moderate multifocal areas, composed predominantly by CD8 + T cells and CD68 + monocyte/macrophage with fewer CD4 + T lymphocytes. In agreement with these data, Mubiru et al [20] showed a focal and multifocal collection of lymphocytes and plasma cells, as well as rare granulocyte infiltration within the myocardium and epicardium. Moreover, their study revealed a positive correlation between PCR positivity and lymphocytic myocarditis in both baboons and cynomolgus macaques infected with T. cruzi, reinforcing the hypothesis of direct parasite-induced damage and T. cruzi-specific immune responses, in myocardial injury.…”

“…After long years of infection, individuals may progress to the cardiac and/or digestive chronic phase, which usually represents the most severe clinical damages [18]. Researchers have demonstrated numerous alterations in the electrical conduction system, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiomegaly, enteromegaly, myocardial fibrosis, and edema, along with other clinical signs of chronicity [9,12,13,19,20]. In several cases the infected NHP develop aggressive chronic Chagas disease and die, usually due to cardiac damages.…”

Nonhuman Primates

“…cruzi infections have been reported in a number of New World species including marmoset, squirrel, spider, cebus, and woolly monkeys, and Old World species including baboons, macaques, and great apes (Williams et al, 2009;Andrade et al, 2009;Mubiru et al, 2014;Kunz et al, 2002). cruzi infections have been reported in a number of New World species including marmoset, squirrel, spider, cebus, and woolly monkeys, and Old World species including baboons, macaques, and great apes (Williams et al, 2009;Andrade et al, 2009;Mubiru et al, 2014;Kunz et al, 2002).…”

In situ hybridization assay for the diagnosis of chagas myocarditis and orchitis in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta): A case report

“…This indicates the possibility of a ruptured cyst with individual amastigotes or residual kDNA fragments being present, which are impossible to detect by routine H&E staining. At the SNPRC, there have been numerous cases with lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis and/or ganglioneuritis (colon, esophagus, and stomach) without visible cysts, suspected to be associated with T. cruzi infection . Due to the unavailability of a commercial antibody, and the loss of histopathological context when using PCR on formalin‐fixed tissues, these cases were difficult to confirm.…”