Early invasive intestinal amebiasis in Mongolian gerbils.

Mongolian gerbils were inoculated intracecally with E. histolytica trophozoites cultured monoxenically. During the first hours of interaction an increase in mucus production was observed. Microulcerative mucosal lesions appeared 24 to 72 h post-inoculation. Inflammatory infiltrate and edema of the lamina propria were associated with necrotic foci. At 96 h, the cecal mucosa was normal and live amebas were no longer detected. It is concluded that gerbils are useful as experimental models for studying the early stages of invasive intestinal amebiasis.