Trypanosoma cruzi:: compromise of reproductive system in acute murine infection

Infection of isolated organs of the reproductive system by Trypanosoma cruzi has been described since Chagas' disease was first studied. A detailed histopathological analysis of mice acutely infected with T. cruzi CL strain showed colonization of male (preputial glands and skin, penis, testicular albuginea, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, coagulative, bulbo urethral and urethral glands) and female (vagina, uterus, oviduct, ovary, mesovary, clitoris and mammary glands) structures of the reproductive system. The results presented herein demonstrated invasion of epithelial cells, pronounced colonization of the epididymis and male genital adnexa, but absence of parasitism in penile corpora cavernosa. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.