A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted on the Auerbach and Meissner plexuses of the esophagus of four chagasic dogs sacrificed during the acute pbase 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 obsenvd in small number which did not permit any analysís. Mild or moderate myositis iras obsewed mainly in the lower third of the esophagus and was rarely associated with amastigote nests. Ganglion and neuron connts 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.
Esophagus; Auerbach and Meissner plexuses; Tiypanosoma cruzi; Acute pbase; Dog