Differences in Plasmodium berghei development in nude and normal mice

Mcguire R. W. 1984. Differences in Plasmodium berghei development in nude and normal mice. International Journal for Parasitology14: 57–61. Parasitemia is a cumulative index of hostparasite responses which constitutes a dynamic cycle of affector-effector mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to view these responses as host or parasite in nature and this investigation focused on parasite responses. This study supports previous findings, i.e., congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice maintain higher parasitemias than control (nu/+) animals. Analysis of these differences demonstrate that, in the erythrocytic phase, the frequency of schizonts, the frequency of multiple-infected red blood cells and the number of nuclei per schizont are dependent on the immunological state of the host. Collectively, parasite developmental characteristics suggest that Plasmodium berghei has a greater reproductive capability and possibly a higher degree of sequestration while developing in nude mice.