Experimental infections of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis in mice and rats, and hosts' reactions

Abstract

In investigations into the course of infection of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis in rats and mice, it was found that adult mice, baby mice and baby rats were susceptible to the infection, while adult rats were totally refractive. The infection was rapidly fatal in baby and adult mice but was maintained with a low parasitaemia and tolerated by baby rats until the animals were 7 weeks old, after which they eradicated the infection totally. Although the adult rats did not exhibit any parasitaemia, there was a decrease in their haemoglobin and packed cell volume values. In adult mice, the haemoglobin and packed cell volume values were found to decrease with the increase in parasitaemia.