MOLECULAR HETEROGENEITY OF LACTIC DEHYDROGENASE IN AVIAN MALARIA (PLASMODIUM LOPHURAE)

Abstract

Lactic dehydrogenase activity increased in direct proportion to the degree of parasitization in synchronous infections of duck erythrocytes. Deviations from this linearity could be accounted for on the basis of the developmental stage of the parasite. Erythrocyte-free P. lophurae showed activities which averaged 3 times that of uninfected erythrocytes, whereas infected erythrocytes had intermediate values. In addition, a patent infection was generally reflected by an increase in the lactic dehydrogenase activity in the plasma, but no direct correlation with parasitemia was established.