Enhancing effects of rodent malaria on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic neoplasia

The interaction between aflatoxin and malaria was tested for its usefulness as a model for hepatic tumor induction in rats. Male Buffalo rats which received aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) followed by Plasmodium berghei infection developed more preneoplastic lesions in the liver compared to those given AFB1 alone. No preneoplastic lesions were found in the liver of control and malarial-treated animals. These findings suggest that the malarial parasite facilitates liver tumor development initiated by AFB1 in rats.