Plasmodium berghei ANKA Infection in ICR Mice as a Model of Cerebral Malaria

Animal models with various combination of host-parasite have long been employed to study malaria pathogenesis. Here, we describe the combination of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in inbred ICR mice as a model of cerebral malaria (CM). Infection in mice was initiated by intraperitoneal injection o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Iranian journal of parasitology 2012, Vol.7 (4), p.62-74
Main Authors: Basir, R, Rahiman, Ss Fazalul, Hasballah, K, Chong, Wc, Talib, H, Yam, Mf, Jabbarzare, M, Tie, Th, Othman, F, Moklas, Mam, Abdullah, Wo, Ahmad, Z
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Model
Animals
Biomedical research
Blood
Brain research
Cytokines
Disease
Health sciences
ICR Mice
Infections
Malaria
Original
Parasites
Pathogenesis
Plasmodium Berghei
Rodents
Spleen
Tropical diseases
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Summary:Animal models with various combination of host-parasite have long been employed to study malaria pathogenesis. Here, we describe the combination of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in inbred ICR mice as a model of cerebral malaria (CM). Infection in mice was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10(7) (0.2ml) parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs). This model can produce a severe degree of infection presented by the high degree of parasitaemia followed by death 6-7 days post infection. Severe anemia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and discolourations of major organs were observed. Histopathological findings revealed several important features mimicking human CM including, microvascular sequestration of PRBCs in major organs, particularly in the brain, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the kupffer cells in the liver, pulmonary edema and hyaline membrane formation in the lungs and haemorrhages in the kidney's medulla and cortex. Proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were all found to be elevated in the plasma of infected mice. This model can reproduce many of the important features of CM and therefore can be used as a tool to advance our understanding of the disease pathogenesis.
ISSN:1735-7020
2008-238X