Intra-Uterine Death from Congenital Chagas' Disease in Laboratory-Bred Marmosets (Saguinus Fuscicollis Lagonotus) *

Abstract

Two intra-uterine deaths from placental and systemic leishmanial parasitism occurred in offspring of a multiparous marmoset bred with a mate of her own subspecies, Saguinus fuscicollis lagonotus. Trypanosomes resembling Trypanosoma cruzi were found in maternal but not in paternal blood. The morphologic identification of a T. cruzi-like trypanosome associated with leishmanial forms in fetal placental endothelium and trophoblasts suggests that this embryonic death is an example of Chagas' placentitis, previously reported only in man. The widespread infection in the other abortus is an example of so-called congenital Chagas' disease. The histopathological features of these congenital infections and the cellular reactions of the marmosets to the organism indicate that this small laboratory primate has potential for studying the pathogenesis and therapy of this disease. This presence of T. cruzi-like infections in a marmoset breeding colony suggests the need for precautions against accidental infection by animal handlers.