Entamoeba histolytica: diffuse liver inflammation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) with experimentally induced amebic liver abscess.
The histopathological changes that occur in the uninfected liver lobes of gerbils with a localized amebic liver abscess (left lobe) were studied from 5 to 60 days after inoculation. Early parenchymal changes (10 days) in the right and median liver lobes showed a lymphocytic infiltrate and bile duct proliferation in the portal areas. Maximum alterations occurred at 20 to 30 days after inoculation and were characterized by a dense portal infiltrate, hepatocyte degeneration, granulocytic infiltrate and marked glycogen depletion. In drug-treated infections with metronidazole, the diffuse liver inflammation was terminated. The results of this study suggest that the diffuse liver injury was directly or indirectly induced by the presence of a proliferating amebic liver abscess and that the pathology caused by amebic liver abscess is more extensive than previously thought.
Chadee
K
K
Institute of Parasitology of McGill University, Macdonald College, Québec, Canada.
Meerovitch
E
E
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male