1. Severe anemia affects both splenectomized and non-splenectomized Plasmodium falciparum-infected Aotus infulatus monkeys.
- Author
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Carvalho LJ, Alves FA, de Oliveira SG, do Valle Rdel R, Fernandes AA, Muniz JA, and Daniel-Ribeiro CT
- Subjects
- Anemia etiology, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Malaria, Falciparum complications, Male, Parasitemia veterinary, Severity of Illness Index, Splenectomy veterinary, Anemia veterinary, Aotidae parasitology, Malaria, Falciparum veterinary, Monkey Diseases parasitology, Plasmodium falciparum
- Abstract
Severe anemia is the earliest and a frequently fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Here we describe Aotus infulatus as a primate model suitable to study this malaria complication. Both non-splenectomized and splenectomized monkeys receiving different inocula of P. falciparum FVO strain presented large (> 50%) decreases in hematocrit values during infection. Non-splenectomized animals were able to control parasite growth (parasitemia did not exceed 4%), but they had to be treated because of severe anemia. Three of 4 splenectomized monkeys did not control parasitemia and were treated, but developed severe anemia after treatment when presenting a negative blood film. Destruction of parasitized red blood cells alone cannot account for the degree of anemia. Non-splenectomized monkeys repeatedly infected with homologous parasites became rapidly and progressively resistant to reinfection and to the development of severe anemia. The data presented here point to A. infulatus as a suitable model for studying the pathogenesis of severe malarial infection.
- Published
- 2003
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