Research Article

Effect of the Plasmid-DNA Vaccination on Macroscopic and Microscopic Damage Caused by the Experimental Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the Canine Model

Table 2

Other macroscopic alterations in DNA-immunized dogs with chronic experimental Chagas disease.

Macroscopic pathological features at 11 months after infection (at the time of euthanizing) GroupsDogs/n (%)

Whitish areas in heart of fibrous consistency
Abundant pericardial fluid
Whitish areas in spleen
SS (mock-immunized) and pBK-CMV (empty plasmid) 5/7 (71%)
6/7 (86%)
Ascites
Megaesophagus
Left ventricular hypertrophy
Thinning of the right ventricular wall
Severe tricuspid endocarditis
pBK-CMV (empty plasmid) 1/7 (14%)
Heart with adhesions in trachea and pericardium
Splenic thickened walls
Whitish areas in spleen and heart
TcSSP4 gene (pBCSSP4 plasmid) 1/7 (14%)