On the Role of Parasite Pigment in the Malaria Paroxysm

Abstract

Effects of infections with Plasmodium knowlesi in rhesus monkeys were compared with those of ferrihemate inj''ns. The inj''d ferrihemate is precipitated in the blood and causes death by shock, presumably due to the blocking of capillaries in vital organs. In malaria infections no soluble ferrihemate is present in the blood and so is believed not to be per se the cause of the paroxysms; toxic manifestations of malaria appeared only when severe anemia had developed and the r.-e. system was overwhelmed by accumulation of parasites, and death (from failure of respiration) when erythrocyte volume had fallen below 10% and Hb below 25%.