Quantitative and qualitative studies of the Auerbach and Meissner plexuses of the esophagus in dogs inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted on the Auerbach and Meissner plexuses of the esophagus of four chagasic dogs sacrificed during the acute phase of infection. Ganglionitis and periganglionitis of the Auerbach plexus ranged from mild to moderate and induced significant neuronal lesions, especially in two animals. The ganglions of the Meissner plexus were observed in small number which did not permit any analysis. Mild or moderate myositis was observed mainly in the lower third of the esophagus and was rarely associated with amastigote nests. Ganglion and neuron counts did not demonstrate denervation. Although the formation of megaesophagus was not induced in any dog, lesions of the Auerbach plexus and myocells of the esophagus were observed during the acute phase of chagasic infection. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic quantitative and qualitative study of the Auerbach and Meissner plexuses of the esophagus in experimental trypanosomiasis cruzi.