Pathological Effects of Trypanosoma Brucei on Small Blood Vessels in Rabbit Ear-Chambers

Abstract

Infection with trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma brucei subgroup causes the liberation of short-chain peptides with kinin-like activity in mice, rats, rabbits and cattle (GOODWIN and RICHARDS, 1960; RICHARDS, 1965; BOREHAM, 1966, 1968) and also in man (BOREHAM and GOODWIN, 1969). The release of kinin is associated with antigen: antibody reactions and may be responsible for changes in vascular permeability that lead to the production of oedema. A study of the blood vessels of the ears and the cremaster muscles of rabbits showed that infection with T. brucei led to a chronic vasculitis (GOODWIN and HOOK, 1968).