Role of complement components in the susceptibility to Plasmodium berghei infection among inbred strains of mice.

Inbred strains of mice, sensitive and resistant to Plasmodium berghei infections, including a complement deficient strain were infected with P. berghei. Daily levels of parasitaemia were determined and serum levels of complement components (C3 and C5) measured by standard haemolytic assay. Serum levels of C3 and C5 were depressed in all strains of mice infected with P. berghei. There was no difference in the infectivity and course of P. berghei infection in the co-isogenic C5 deficient and non-deficient strains. The significance of these observations is discussed.