Plasmodium yoelii: resistance to disease is linked to the mtv-7 locus in BALB/c mice

We have identified congenic mouse strains that differ dramatically in resistance to infection with the murine malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii 17X. After infection, BALB/c mice develop severe anemia and a high degree of parasitemia which sometimes results in death. The mtv-7 congenic strain BALB.D2.mlsa, however, develops only a mild degree of anemia and parasitemia. In this paper we describe the course of the disease and discuss the potential role of mtv-7 and linked loci in control of this infection. These mice differ in their response to anemia, which may contribute to their differential susceptibility to disease; however, no influence of mtv-7 reactive T cells was documented.