Pulmonary pathology in severe malaria infection in health and protein deprivation

Histopathological changes in the lung resulting from infection with a virulent strain of the malarial parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi, in healthy and protein-deprived Rhesus monkeys were studied. Pertinent changes noted were a high degree of parasitized red cells in septal capillaries, microinfarcts, alveolar and interstitial oedema, interstitial pneumonitis, bronchopneumonia, and injury to septal capillary wall which may be secondary to the production of tumour necrosis factor. These changes were more marked in the non-protein-deprived monkeys.