Immunologic and Pathologic Studies of Infections with Rat-Adapted Plasmodium Chabaudi

Abstract

Progress in the adaptation of Plasmodium chabaudi from the mouse to the rat host was indicated by progressive shortening of the prepatent period of infection, increases in rate of parasite growth, and lengthening of the period of patent parasitemia with successive passages in the new host. The data suggested that the parasite recently taken from the mouse host was more antigenic for rats than were the parasites taken from rats at subsequent passages. Another change noted was that P. chabaudi in rats did not produce the antigen responsible for acquired resistance to Babesia rodhaini as had been noted in infections of mice.