Complement increases in experimental Leishmania donovani infection of the golden hamster

Complement (C') levels in experimental visceral leishmaniasis were studied in the golden hamster. Using the total haemolytic assay of C' and the haemolytic diffusion plate assay for factor B, it was observed that the total haemolytic C' as well as factor B levels increased markedly starting one week after infection and remained high throughout most of the infection. A decline in C' level was noted toward the terminal stage of infection. The reason for the persistent high level of C' noted in this study was discussed.