The role of the host during the development of Plasmodium berghei hepatic schizonts.

Immature exoerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium berghei are immunogenic and produce antigens with protective capacities. Immunization experiments show a strong dependency of the responses on the host species and strain. To study this dependency a potential natural host of Plasmodium berghei, Thamnomys gazellae, was introduced, a species which is very susceptible for infection. Young liver stages were produced in different hosts after inoculation with irradiated sporozoites or after treatment with difluoromethylornithine.