The Osmotic Fragility of Erythrocytes in Experimental Malaria *

Abstract

Summary Results of previous studies on the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in malaria have been contradictory. Utilizing a new and more precise method for determining sensitivity to hypotoniclysis, the present investigations have demonstrated that the osmotic fragility of parasitized cells in Plasmodium berghei, P. knowlesi, P. gallinaceum and P. falciparum infections was significantly increased. In addition, the findings have shown that the increased fragility of erythrocytes was not solely limited to the parasite-containing cells.