2005A0155 - Importance of Mcramp In Outcome of Leishmania & Trypansoma Infections - Bradford S. McGwire
Pain Code = 3E due to death as an endpoint

122 transgenic mice will be used in this experiment.

Leishmaniasis (LEASH-ma-NIGH-a-sis) is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common forms are cutaneous (cue-TAY-knee-us) leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral (VIS-er-al) leishmaniasis, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (for example, spleen, liver, bone marrow).

Trypanosoma cruzi/Chagas' Disease

Trypanosoma bucei/Sleeping Sickness

The animals are infected with one of three parasites. Here is the timeline from the protocol for the pathology or death and potentail alleviation of distress or pain

Day 0 - infection

Day 4-5 - Death by infection of T. brucei - death too rapid for effective intervention. Death is thought to result from profound hypoglycemia and CNS invasion of parasites.

Day 15-30 - Death by infection of T. cruzi - anesthesia and sacrifice of animals judged to be very near death. extreme inability to ambulate and acquire food and water.

Day 30-60 - Progressive lesion development in Leishmania infection - intervention in secondary bacterial infection of ulcerative lesions; signs of systemic infection will lead to anesthesia and sacrifice; partner gnawing of lesions will result in separation to individual cages

UPDATE: An amendment to add 30 mice was approved 1/25/06.

"During infection wirh S. auresus mice exhibit decreases in activity level, ruffeled fur coat, anorexia, inability to ambulate, dehydration or hunched posture for greater than 24 hours. Death of infected, untreated control mice is expected to occur within 12-24 hours post inoculation. Survival is expected to be increased, and the symptoms of infection decreased during treatment with the test agent as it diminishes the bacterial load. Although these are predictions, mice will be observed twice dailt and if they exhibit such ERC (early removal criteria) criteria for greater than 24 hours they will be euthaniozed as described in the original approved protocol."

That method of death was isoflurane with cervical dislocation.

last update: 3/7/06