Evidence of blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier permeability impairment in Trypanosoma rhodesiense infection in vervet monkeys.

Blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier damage in 11 vervet monkeys was estimated before infection and during the early and late phases of Trypanosoma rhodesiense disease, using the method given by Tibbling, Link and Ohman (1977). Of the 11, only one monkey showed signs of barrier impairment that ranged from a slight (12.6) to total barrier impairment (285); the latter occurring just before the height of clinical encephalitis. The barrier reverted to normal after melarsoprol treatment at 1.8 mg/kg X 4. Between the two extremes of barrier impairment, there were periods of remission during which time the barrier reverted to normal. This monkey however continued to suffer epileptic fits for a period of three months, a condition that started soon after the treatment.