Home » Volumes » Volume 28 July/September 1995 » The hemorrhagic syndrome of leptospirosis: an experimental study in guinea pigs

The hemorrhagic syndrome of leptospirosis: an experimental study in guinea pigs

João José Pereira da Silva; Bernardino Alves de Souza Netto; Walter Lilembaum; Maria Erbene Amorim Melo Alvim; Albanita Viana de Oliveira

DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86821995000300002


ABSTRACT

The hemorrhagic syndrome of leptospirosis was studied in guinea pigs. The study correlates hematological, histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations in sixty animals inoculated by the intraperitoneal route with lml of the culture of virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni. Leptospirae antigens were detected by immunoperoxidase, chiefly in liver, kidney and heart muscle capillaries. Possible pathogenic mechanisms responsible for hemorrhagic syndrome are discussed with emphasis on toxic and anoxic attacks causing damage to endothelia, platelet depletion and alterations to hemostasia rates: prothrombin time [FT], partial thromboplastin time [PIT] and fibrinogen concentrations. Tide clinical-laboratoiy picture is compatible with the histopathological observation of disseminated intravascular coagulation [D1C] in most of the guinea pigs from day 4 of infection.

Keywords: Leptospirosis. Hemorrhagic syndrome. Platelet depletion. Immunoperoxidase. Disseminated intravascular coagulation. DIC.


RESUMO

Os autores estudam a síndrome hemorrágica da leptospirose em cobaios inoculados com amostra virulenta de Leptospira interrogans sorovar copenhageni. São abordados aspectos hematológicos, hístopatolôgicos e imuno- histoquímicos. Aumento do tempo de protrombina (PT) e do tempo parcial tromboplastina (PTT), bem como redução do número de plaquetas e do fibrinogênio acompanharam-se de congestão vascular, hemorragias e coagulação intravascular no fígado, rim, coração, músculo esquelético e pulmão. O antígetzo de Leptospira foi detectado principalmente em tecido hepático, renal e cardíaco. São discutidos possíveis mecanismos patogênicos responsáveis pela síndrome hemorrágica, com ênfase na agressão tóxico- anóxica do endotêlio vascular, que propiciaria a instalação de coagulação intravascular disseminada (CIVD) observada, sobretudo, nos cobaios dos grupos 4, 5 e 6.

Palavras-chave: Leptospirose, Síndrome hemorrágica, Plaquetopenia. Coagulação intravascular disseminada, CIVD, Imunoperoxidase.


 

 

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 Adress to correspondence:
Prof. João José Pereira da Silva.
Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias do Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro,
Universidade Federal Fluminense.
R. Marquês de Paraná 303,
24030-210,
Niterói, RJ, Brasil.

Recebido para publicação em 30/08/94.

 

 

Laboratório de Pesquisa em Anatomia Patológica do Hospital Evandro Chagas do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.