Clinical, biochemical, and electrocardiographic aspects of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in free-ranging golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia).
BACKGROUND
Wild golden lion tamarins from the Biological Reserve of Poço das Antas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have high prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection leading us to clinically assess the disease in this endangered species.


METHODS
34 tamarins were sampled for the presence of T. cruzi infection (through serology) and clinical evaluation (electrocardiography, blood counts and biochemical analysis).


RESULTS
32% of the sampled tamarins were T. cruzi positive, 45% of these displayed cardiac abnormalities. Main cardiac abnormality in infected tamarins was T wave low voltage; R wave low voltage and V3S wave high voltage were also found. The tamarins displaying T wave low voltage had high proportion of seric cardiac creatine kinase. Seric mean total protein was significantly higher in infected tamarins.


CONCLUSIONS
Sampled tamarins displayed typical signs of T. cruzi infection, similar to experimentally infected primates and human natural infection. Potential risk of T. cruzi infection to this endangered species is discussed.
Monteiro
Rafael Veríssimo
RV
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Baldez
Jennifer
J
Dietz
James
J
Baker
Andrew
A
Lisboa
Cristiane Varella
CV
Jansen
Ana Maria
AM
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D051039:Leontopithecus / Q000469:parasitology*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*