title: Experimental Babesia microti infection in golden hamsters: immunoglobulin G response and recovery from severe hemolytic anemia.
abstract: We described the parasitemia, hematologic changes, and immunity developed by golden hamsters during 8 wk of infection with Babesia microti following experimental inoculation. All 8 hamsters used in this study were readily infected. Animals attained peak parasitemias asynchronously but within a 2-wk period. Most of the animals reached their peak parasitemia by 4 wk postinoculation, attaining a mean +/- SD of 21.9 +/- 9.4% infected erythrocytes (range = 20-35%). Red blood cell count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin level were used to monitor the course of the hemolytic anemia experienced by infected hamsters. All 3 measures corresponded inversely to the parasitemia; significant hematologic changes (P = 0.0001) were observed during the 8 wk of monitoring. Although all hamsters suffered from severe hemolytic anemia, they also recovered within the same period. Golden hamsters developed a detectable anti-B. microti IgG response by 2 wk postinoculation. Individual animals typically attained peak antibody levels (> or = 1:8, 192) 1 wk after the peak parasitemia. Hamsters retained a high IgG titer (> or = 1:4,096), although parasitemias fell dramatically, fluctuating thereafter at low levels (< 5%).
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector-Bome Disease, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hyland
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Mather
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G