Microbiological and Pathological Features of Experimentally Induced Leptospirosis in Guinea Pigs

실험적으로 기니픽에 유발시킨 렙토스피라병에 대한 미생물학적 및 병리학적 연구

  • Chang, Woo-Hyun (Department of Microbiology and Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Ik-Sang (Department of Microbiology and Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Woo-Kon (Department of Microbiology and Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Kyung-Hee (Department of Microbiology and Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Jae-Ho (Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chung-Nam National University) ;
  • Chi, Je-Geun (Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Jung-Bin (Department of Forengic Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • 장우현 (서울대학교 의과대학 미생물학교실 및 암연구소) ;
  • 김익상 (서울대학교 의과대학 미생물학교실 및 암연구소) ;
  • 이우곤 (서울대학교 의과대학 미생물학교실 및 암연구소) ;
  • 박경희 (서울대학교 의과대학 미생물학교실 및 암연구소) ;
  • 이재호 (충남대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실) ;
  • 지제근 (서울대학교 의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 이정빈 (서울대학교 의과대학 법의학교실)
  • Published : 1986.06.30

Abstract

To understand the pathogenesis of anicteric leptospirosis with severe pulmonary hemorrhage occured in Korea, the microbiological and pathological features were observed in the experimentally induced leptospirosis in guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans isolated from the patient at Wonju, Korea, and the results are summarized as follows. 1. The main pathological features were widespread hemorrhages, especially affecting lung, skeletal muscles, retroperitoneal and perirenal adipose tissues. The hemorrhages accompanied inflammatory process especially of vasculitic pattern as well as occasional coagulation necrosis in the liver, skeletal muscle, and myocardium. The main inflammatory cells were of plasma cell even in the fairly early stage of the infection. 2. Those pathologic changes were more exaggerated in the inoculation site. 3. Within 144 hours of infection, the longer the infection time, the more antigens were observed in the tissues, and the severer the pathologic changes. 4. Leptospiral antigens were detected at first by indirect immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase technics. As the infection time extended, the antigens were observed in all of the tissues examined except in the skeletal muscle. The shape of the antigens was spiral or thread-like within 72 hours of infection. As the infection progressed, they became fragmented and granular. 5. Leptospires were detected in the blood within 144 hours of infection by darkfield microscopic examination. Thereafter, none was observed. 6. Antibody to leptospires were detected as early as 72 hours of infection. In summary, the virulent strain of L. interrogans used in this experiment induced widespread hemorrhages with inflammatory reaction especially in lung, skeletal muscles, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue. With these findings, it is suggested that the direct toxic effect of leptospires might playa great role in the pathogenesis of this infection.

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