Gametocyte development of Plasmodium chabaudi in mice and rats: evidence for host induction of gametocytogenesis

Gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium chabaudi was studied in intact and splenectomized mice and rats. Blood forms inoculated into mice entered a new asexual cycle, resulting in high parasitaemias 4 days after inoculation. Blood forms inoculated into intact rats were almost eliminated by day 4 after injection. In splenectomized rats, however, the parasitaemia remained constant over this period. With an immunofluorescence test (IFA), using an antiserum to mouse erythrocytes, it was found that the majority of parasites invaded rat erythrocytes, but were unable to enter a new asexual cycle. It was found that up to 50% of the parasites in splenectomized rats developed into gametocytes. The IFA showed that the proportion of gametocytes to asexual forms was very high in splenectomized animals, irrespective of the origin of the host cells-mouse or rat.