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EXPERIMENTAL LEPTOSPIROSIS IN MARMOSET MONKEYS (CALLITHRIX JACCHUS): A NEW MODEL FOR STUDIES OF SEVERE PULMONARY LEPTOSPIROSIS

Experimental infection of marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) with Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni showed microscopic patterns of tissue reactions comparable to those seen in the severe forms of human leptospirosis, including intra-alveolar hemorrhage. The most impressive microscopic changes were seen in the lung and kidney of animals killed at days 6 and 12 after inoculation. There were extensive and irregular areas of hemorrhage predominating around main bronchial branches or diffusely spread to the pulmonary parenchyma, as well as severe tubulointerstitial nephritis. Antibody response detected by the microscopic agglutination test was quantitatively similar to those seen in humans and paralleled severity of tissue lesions. The distribution of leptospires or antigenic debris in infected tissues was observed by immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Large numbers of typical leptospires were seen in the lumen of proximal renal tubules. Positive reactions showing antigenic debris were closely associated with sites of tissue damage.

Received May 21, 2003. Accepted for publication January 22, 2004.

Acknowledgments: We thank Antonio José Alves, Emilson Domingues da Silva, José Mariano da Silva, José Wanderley Pissurno, and Luzia de Fatima Caputo for their excellent and dedicated technical support. We also thank the Primate Information Center, University of Washington (Seattle, WA) for providing bibliographic information about leptospirosis in primates.

Financial support: This study was supported by grants from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development–CNPq, Brazil.

Authors’ addresses: Martha Maria Pereira, Department of Bacteriology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brazil, 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, E-mail: mpereira{at}ioc.fiocruz.br. João José Pereira da Silva, Department of Infectious Diseases, Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Marquês do Paraná, 303 DIP, 24210-030 Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, E-mail: walnirfigueiredo{at}uol.com.br. Marcelo Alves Pinto, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, E-mail: marcelop{at}ioc.fiocruz.br. Mauro França da Silva and Renato Sérgio Marchevsky, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/FIOCRUZ, Bio-Manguinhos Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, E-mails: maurofrancadasilva{at}bio.fiocruz.br and march{at}bio.fiocruz.br. Marcelo Pelajo Machado and Henrique Leonel Lenzi, Departament of Patology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, E-mails: mpelajo{at}terra.com.br and hlenz{at}ioc.fiocruz.br.