title: A histopathological study of hearts and spleens of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Leptospira interrogans, serovar pyrogenes.
abstract: The effects of Leptospira interrogans on the heart and spleen of hamsters were studied histopathologically. Infected hamsters were sacrificed at 1 hour, 6 hours and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 after inoculation with Leptospira interrogans serovar pyrogenes. The heart and spleen of each of the sacrificed animals were removed and processed for routine conventional light microscopy. Infected hearts showed degenerative change of the cardiac muscle cells composed of cellular swelling, condensation of chromatin granules, pyknotic nuclei and acidophilic cytoplasm. Congestion of the cardiac blood vessels and hemorrhagic areas were found. Necrosis of the cardiac muscle cells was surrounded by numerous inflammatory cells. In the spleen, cellular necrosis was found scattered throughout the splenic cord. The splenic sinusoids were dilated and congested with many hemorrhagic areas. Inflammatory cell infiltration was also noted in the splenic parenchyma and the splenic sinusoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jittima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muensoongnoen
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phulsuksombati
authors.forename: Paisal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parichatikanond
authors.forename: Noppadon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sangjan
authors.forename: Chaiyaphruk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pilakasiri
authors.forename: Kesorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sripaoraya
authors.forename: Jantima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roongruangchai
authors.forename: Kasem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koedpuech
authors.forename: Kajee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pilakasiri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D007921:Leptospira interrogans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors