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Clinical assessment of the entry into neurological state in rat experimental African trypanosomiasis.

Chevrier C, Canini F, Darsaud A, Cespuglio R, Buguet A, Bourdon L

Centre de recherches du service de santé des armées, Département des Facteurs Humains, 24, avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, B.P. 87 38702 La Tronche, France. cchevriver@crssa.net

Human African trypanosomiasis, caused by Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense or rhodesiense, evolves in two stages: haemolymphatic stage and meningo-encephalitic stages, the latter featuring numerous neurological disorders. In experimental models infected with diverse T.b. sub-species, body weight (BW) loss, drop in food intake (FI), and hypo-activity after an asymptomatic period suggest the occurrence of a similar two-stage organization. In addition to daily measurement of BW and FI, body core temperature (T(co)) and spontaneous activity (SA) were recorded by telemetry in T.b. brucei-infected rats. After a 10--12-day symptom-free period, a complex clinical syndrome occurred suddenly. If the animal survived the access, the syndrome re-occurred at approximately 5-day intervals until death. The syndrome was made of a drop in FI and BW, a sharp decrease in T(co) and a loss of SA, suggesting a brisk alteration of the central nervous system functioning. Such events confirm the existence of a two-stage disease development in experimental trypanosomiasis. The entry into the second stage is marked by the occurrence of the first access, BW follow-up being essential and often sufficient its determination.

Published 13 June 2005 in Acta Trop, 95(1): 33-9.
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