Opromolla D V, de Arruda O S, Fleury R N
Hansenol Int. 1980 Jun;5(1):28-36.
The authors report their experiences in raising armadillos and the results obtained in inoculating them with M. leprae. They begin by reporting on the origin of the animals, how they were captured, and their efforts until they found the right kind of housing for the armadillos. They also tell of their attempts to develop the correct feeding procedures. The result is the feed used now in their laboratory: chicken feed mixed with bread, eggs, meat and milk. Along with this, they report on the way each animal is registered and the examination it undergoes upon admittance, namely, recording of its weight, rectal temperature, feces examination, hemogram and hemossedimentation. They also tell how animals are immobilized so as to take blood samples for the inoculations. Lastly, they present the results of the inoculations with M. leprae in three armadillos of the Euphractus sexticinctus species and 26 of the Dasypus novemcinctus species, with special reference to an armadillo of the D. novemcinctus species, which had systemic infection 15 months after being inoculated subcutaneously and intravenously. Bacilli were found in large quantities in various organs like the skin, lymph nodes, liver, kidneys and spleen. No bacilli were found in the myocardium, pancreas, thyroid and testicles. The authors are of the opinion that this is the first armadillo of the D. novemcinctus species to present experimental systemic infection with M. leprae in South America. Another armadillo, which has been inoculated with a suspension of 1.2 X 10(8) bacilli by the intracardiac route already showed nodules with bacilli on the abdominal wall 10 months after being inoculated. They believe that the results already obtained indicate that soon they will be able to provide material for institutions in Brazil as well as other countries that are interested in the study of M. leprae and in the preparation of the Mitsuda antigen which is so vital to the control of Hansen's disease.
作者报告了他们饲养犰狳的经验以及用麻风杆菌接种犰狳所获得的结果。他们首先报告了动物的来源、捕获方式以及为找到适合犰狳居住的环境所做的努力。他们还讲述了开发正确饲养程序的尝试。结果就是他们实验室现在使用的饲料：混合了面包、鸡蛋、肉和牛奶的鸡饲料。与此同时，他们报告了每只动物的登记方式以及入院时接受的检查，即记录其体重、直肠温度、粪便检查、血常规和血沉。他们还讲述了如何使动物固定以便采集血样用于接种。最后，他们展示了用麻风杆菌接种六带犰狳属的3只犰狳和九带犰狳属的26只犰狳的结果，特别提到了一只九带犰狳属的犰狳，它在皮下和静脉接种15个月后出现了全身感染。在皮肤、淋巴结、肝脏、肾脏和脾脏等各种器官中发现了大量杆菌。在心肌、胰腺、甲状腺和睾丸中未发现杆菌。作者认为这是南美洲第一只出现麻风杆菌实验性全身感染的九带犰狳属犰狳。另一只通过心内途径接种了1.2×10⁸个杆菌悬液的犰狳，在接种10个月后腹壁上已出现带杆菌的结节。他们相信已经获得的结果表明，很快他们就能为巴西以及其他对麻风杆菌研究和制备对控制汉森病至关重要的光田抗原感兴趣的国家的机构提供材料。
