Effect of phenylhydrazine hydrochloride on Plasmodium lophurae infection in the duck

Abstract

White Pekin ducks infected with P. lophurae and treated with phenylhydrazine HC1 have a lower parasitemia than untreated ducks. This is believed to be due to the effect of the drug on erythrocytes, causing early disintegration of these cells and the premature release of the contained plasmodia which are incapable of re-entering erythrocytes and continuing the parasitemia. The remains of the erythrocytes and the immature plasmodia are rapidly phagocytized and removed from the general circulation.