Summary
Experiments were carried out to study common and strain specific features of malaria (P. berghei) in mice. In the various mouse strains infection with 105 P.E. results in four different mortality patterns, with frequent secondary infections among all long surviving mice. A prepatent period of four days, proliferation in oxyphilic erythrocytes, a first peak of parasitaemia on day 7/8 and crisis occur in all strains. The magnitude of peak parasitaemia, however, and the ability to develop polychromatocytosis which coincides with survival beyond crisis are strain specific. Transient variations in number of erythrocytes and s.g.o.t. activity shortly after infection are the earliest noticeable changes, but do not predict later ones. The inception of definitive anaemia is on day 6 in all strains, and thus just before the first peak of parasitaemia but independent of its magnitude. Anaemia further develops at a strain specific rate. In general, parasite proliferation, peak infection, crisis, and polychromatocytosis are followed by changes in s.g.o.t. activity chronologically but not quantitatively. Extensive thymic involution occurs in all strains, but develops in a strain specific pattern. Initial changes in spleen weight can reflect R.E.S. activity and an ongoing immunological process which collapses, however, around peak infection. Subsequent increases in spleen weight may in particular depend on proliferation of erythropoietic tissue, especially in instances of distinct polychromatocytosis. There is no quantitative correlation between changes in liver weight and s.g.o.t. activity, but focal liver cell necrosis may account for high s.g.o.t. activity.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature
Brewer, G.J., Coan, C.C.: Interaction of red cell A.T.P. levels and malaria, and the treatment of malaria with hyperoxia. Milit. Med. Spec. Issue 134, 1056–1067 (1969)
Brewer, G.J., Powell, R.D.: A study of the relationship between the content of adenosine triphosphatase in human red cells and the course of falciparum malaria: A new system that may confer protection against malaria. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. 54, 741–745 (1965)
Brown, H.W.: Malaria pigment (hematin) as a factor in the production of the malarial paroxysism. J. exp. Med. 15, 579–597 (1912)
Brown, H.W.: Malarial pigment (hematin) as an active factor in the production of the blood picture malaria. J. exp. Med. 18, 96–106 (1913)
Einheber, A., Wren, R.E., Rosen, H., Martin, L.K.: Ornithine carbomoyl transferase activity in plasma of mice with malaria as an index of liver damage. Nature 215, 1489–1491 (1967)
Eling, W., Jerusalem, C.: Thymidinkinase-Aktivität und DNS-Gehalt von Thymozyten bei der akzidentellen Thymusinvolution. Anat. Anz. 121, 197–202 (1968)
Eling, W., Jerusalem, C.: Active immunization against the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in mice. Sulfathiazole treatment of a P. berghei infection and development of immunity. Z. Tropenmed. Parasitol. 28, 158–174 (1977a)
Greenberg, J.: Differences in the course of Plasmodium berghei infections in some hybrid and backcross mice. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 5, 19–28 (1956)
Greenberg, J., Kendrick, L.: Parasitaemia and survival in inbred strains of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. J. Parasit. 43, 413–419 (1957)
Greenberg, J., Kendrick, L.: Parasitemia and survival in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hybrids between Swiss (high parasitemia) and Str (low parasitemia) mice. J. Parasit. 44, 492–498 (1958)
Greenberg, J., Nadel, E.M., Coatney, G.R.: The influence of strain, sex and age of mice on infection with Plasmodium berghei. J. Infect. Dis. 93, 96–100 (1953)
Hagmann, J., Hess, M.W., Keller, H.V., Cottier, H.: Cell systems particularly in graft rejection. Hdb. allg. Pathologie, Band VI/8, p. 217–245. Berlin: Springer, 1977
Jerusalem, C.: Über die Anämiegenese bei der Malariainfektion (Plasmodium berghei) von N.M.R.I.-Mäusen. Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. 15, 372–385 (1964)
Jerusalem, C.: Histo- und biometrische Untersuchungen zur Frage der Autohaemaggression der Infektion mit Plasmodium berghei. Ann. Soc. belge Méd. trop. 45, 405–416 (1965)
Jerusalem, C.: Temporärer und permanenter Leberersatz. In: Experimentelle Hepatologie. O. Zelder, ed., Stuttgart: Thieme 1977
Jerusalem, C., Jap, P.: General pathology of the transplantation reaction in experimental and clinical organ grafts Hdb. allg. Pathologie, Band VI/8, pp. 439–615. Berlin: Springer 1977
Kretschmar, W.: Infektionsverlauf und Krankheitsbild bei mit Plasmodium berghei infizierten Mäusen vom Stamm N.M.R.I.Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. 12, 346–368 (1961)
Kretschmar, W.: Resistenz und Immunität bei mit Plasmodium berghei infizierten Mäusen. Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. 13, 159–175 (1962)
Kretschmar, W., Jerusalem, C.: Milz und Malaria. Der Infektionsverlauf (Plasmodium berghei) in splenektomierten N.M.R.I.-Mäusen und seine Deutung anhand der histopathologischen Veränderungen der Milz nicht-splenektomierter Mäusen. Z. Tropenmed. Parasit. 14, 279–310 (1963)
Lawson, M.R.: Crescentic bodies in aestivo-autumnal malaria; their migration and attachment to the surface of the red corpuscle. J. exp. Med. 31, 201–207 (1920)
Maegraith, B.G.: Serum biological changes in malaria. Milit. Med. suppl. 131, 1111–1114 (1966)
Maegraith, B.G.: Liver involvement in acute mammalian malaria with special reference to Plasmodium Knowlesi malaria. Advanc. Parasit. 6, 189–231 (1968)
Maegraith, B.: Malaria. In: Tropical pathology (H. Spencer, ed.). pp. 310–349. Berlin: Springer 1973
Maegraith, B.: Other pathological processes in malaria. Bull. Wld Hlth Org. 50, 187–193 (1974)
Maegraith, B., Fletcher, A.: The pathogenesis of mammalian malaria. Advanc. Parasit. 10, 49–75 (1972)
Maegraith, B., Onabanjo, A.O.: The involvement of histamine in malaria. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 37, 535–536 (1969)
Martin, L.K., Einheber, A., Porro, R.F., Sadun, E.H., Bauer, H.: Plasmodium berghei infections in gnotobiotic mice and rats: Parasitologic immunologic and histopathologic observations. Milit. Med. suppl. 131, 870–889 (1966)
Micklem, H.S., Ogden, D.A., Pritchard, H.: Influence of cutaneous sensitization with oxazolone on recruitment of myelogenous stem cells in the thymus. Clin. exp. Immunol. 12, 103–110 (1972)
Miller, J.F.A.P.: Experimental and clinical studies. In: The thymus (G.E.W. Wolstenholme, R. Porter and A. Churchill, eds.). pp. 153–174. London: L.T.D. 1966
Moran, C., de Rivera, V., Turk, J.: The immunological significance of histological changes in the spleen and liver in mouse malaria. Clin. exp. Immunol. 13, 467–478 (1973)
Onabanjo, A.O., Maegraith, B.G.: Pathological lesions produced in the brain by kallikrein (kinino genase) in Macaca mulatta infected with Plasmodium knowlesi. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 64, 237 (1970a)
Onabanjo, A.O., Maegraith, B.G.: The probable pathogenic role of adenosine in malaria. Brit. J. Exp. Path. 51, 581–586 (1970b)
Pierpaoli, W., Sorkin, E.: Alterations of adrenal cortex and thyroid in mice with congenital absence of the thymus. Nature (New Biology) 238, 282–285 (1972)
Sadun, E., Williams, J., Martin, L.: Serum biochemical changes in malaria infection in man, chimpanzees and mice. Milit. Med. suppl. 131, 1094–1106 (1966)
Sadun, E., Willians, J., Meroney, F., Hutt, G.: Pathophysiology of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Exp. Parasit. 17, 277–286 (1965)
Sengers, R.C.A., Jerusalem, C., Doesburg, W.H.: Murine malaria. IV. Disturbed immunological responsiveness during Plasmodium berghei infection. Exp. Parasit. 30, 41–53 (1971)
Sengers, R.C.A., Liem, P.L., Doesburg, W.H.: Murine malaria. II. Relationship between number of inoculated parasites and survival time. Exp. Parasit. 29, 98–102 (1971)
Singer, I.: The effect of splenectomy or phenylhydrazine on infections with Plasmodium berghei in the white mouse. J. Infect. Dis. 94, 159–163 (1954)
Topley, E., Bruce-Chwatt, L.J., Dorrell, J.: Haematological study of a rodent malaria model. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 73, 1–8 (1970)
Voller, A.: Immunopathology of malaria. Bull. Wld Hlth Org. 50, 177–186 (1974)
Zuckerman, A.: Recent studies on factors involved in malarial anemia. Milit. Med. 131, 1201–1216 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
These investigations received financial support from the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, and the Dutch Government through the International Cooperative Research Project for Malarial Immunity and Immunopathology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eling, W., van Zon, A. & Jerusalem, C. The course of a Plasmodium berghei infection in six different mouse strains. Z. Parasitenk. 54, 29–45 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380634
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380634