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Host diet in experimental rodent malaria: a variable which can compromise experimental design and interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

C. F. Gilks ,
W. Jarra ,
K. Harvey-Wood ,
S. A. McLean  and
T. Schetters
C. F. Gilks
Affiliation:
1Tropical Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU
W. Jarra
Affiliation:
2Division of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA
K. Harvey-Wood
Affiliation:
3Wellcome Parasitology Laboratory, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH
S. A. McLean
Affiliation:
3Wellcome Parasitology Laboratory, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH
T. Schetters
Affiliation:
4Department of Cytology and Histology, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Holland
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Summary

Over the past few years several experienced groups studying malaria have encountered significant problems with their particular rodent malaria–host system. This has involved, in some cases, periods during which the recovery of cryo-preserved parasite stocks and growth of bloodstream parasites was markedly inhibited and, in other cases, periods of drastically increased mortality rates. The common factor linking these incidents was that they coincided with alterations in the experimental animal diet used. in the experimental animal diet used. The inhibition of growth of cryopreserved stabilates or bloodstream parasites was abolished by supplementation with p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) or by changing the diet used. Although the suppressive effects of diets lacking PABA on parasite growth have been known for over 30 years, the variation of PABA levels in modern laboratory animal feed concentrates is not well recognized. We have not established the exact cause of increased mortality, but it has been overcome by changing the diet used. We are documenting our experiences with this potential variable to forewarn workers in other laboratories of possible problems inherent in the use of different diets.

Keywords

host dietrodent malariap-aminobenzoic acidmortality
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 98 , Issue 2 , April 1989 , pp. 175 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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References

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