@entity296 ( @entity296 ) is caused by the protozoan @entity1527 , and it affects 30% of the 16-18 million @entity1 infected in Latin America. A good rodent model that develops a @entity384 closely resembling @entity1 @entity296 after @entity1527 infection is still needed. We compared the @entity296 developed by @entity1527 -infected @entity329 with @entity1 @entity296 using quantitative methods. Female hamsters were infected with 3.5 x 10(4) (G1, n = 10) or 10(5) (G2, n = 10) @entity1527 Y strain blood trypomastigotes. Control animals (C, n = 10) were injected with saline solution. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at 4, 8 and 12 months @entity281 . Heart sections were submitted to histopathological/morphometric analysis 12 months @entity281 . At this time, @entity67 and diffuse or multi-focal @entity2401 were observed in 91% and 100% of G1 and G2 infected groups, respectively. Median interstitial collagen volumes in groups C, G1 and G2 were 1.2%, 1.9% and 3.9%, respectively, and were significantly higher in group G2 than in group C. Among infected animals, @entity2401 showed a positive correlation with @entity82 . Deaths in the chronic phase (8-12 months @entity281 ) were more frequent among G2 than G1, and were associated with macroscopic @entity2554 , severe @entity2401 and increased @entity82 values, along with an earlier onset of @entity67 . The @entity1527 chronically infected @entity329 develops a @entity296 which resembles @entity1 @entity296 , and might be an adequate tool to investigate pathogenic mechanisms of this disease and to search for novel therapeutic strategies.

The XXXX as a model for the @entity384 of Chagas' disease: a quantitative echocardiographical and histopathological analysis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'people'] @entity296 :: ('MESH:D009202', 'Disease') :: ["Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy", 'cardiomyopathy', "Chronic Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy", 'CCC'] @entity82 :: ('MESH:D005355', 'Disease') :: ['interstitial fibrosis', 'fibrosis'] @entity1527 :: ('5693', 'Species') :: ['Trypanosoma cruzi', 'T. cruzi'] @entity384 :: ('MESH:D002311', 'Disease') :: ['dilated cardiomyopathy'] @entity2554 :: ('MESH:C563906', 'Disease') :: ['ventricular dilation'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['post-infection'] @entity329 :: ('10036', 'Species') :: ['Syrian hamster', 'Syrian hamsters'] @entity67 :: ('MESH:D018754', 'Disease') :: ['ventricular dysfunction'] @entity2401 :: ('MESH:D009205', 'Disease') :: ['myocarditis']
@entity329 :: (10036,Species) :: ['Syrian hamster']
