title: A spleen is not necessary to resolve infections with Plasmodium yoelii.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sayles
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wassom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008288:Malaria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009929:Organ Size; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013156:Splenectomy