A spleen is not necessary to resolve infections with Plasmodium yoelii
Sayles, P.C.; Cooley, A.J.; Wassom, D.L.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 44(1): 42-48
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 1996740 Document Number: 374152
The role of the spleen in resistance to infections with nonlethal Plasmodium yoelii 17x is dependent upon the genotype of the host. Thus, DBA/2 (D2) mice infected with P. yoelii 17x were not adversely affected by removal of the spleen, while splenectomized C57BL/6 (B6) or Balb/c mice failed to resolve their infections and eventually died. The levels of parasitemia were lower in splenectomized mice compared to intact controls; however, splenectomized mice became as anemic as did spleen-intact controls. Splenectomy resulted in the appearance of large aggregates of mononuclear cells in the livers of infected mice and also altered the liver/body weight ratios. These results indicate that D2 mice have a spleen-independent mechanism of clearing parasites which is lacking in B6 and Balb/c mice.