Abstract

Levels of platelets and other hematological values were monitored in 21 Saimiri and 12 Aotus monkeys over a period of three weeks post-infection with monkey-adapted Indochina CDC-1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. In both Saimiri sciureus boliviensis and Aotus nancymai karyotype-1 monkeys the severest thrombocytopenia was observed at 14 days post-infection coinciding with peak parasitemia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, and anemia associated with severe hemoglobinemia and elevated fibrinogen degeneration products(FDP's). MCH and MCV profiles in Aotus monkeys decreased with ascending parasitemia. In contrast, these parameters in Saimiri were characterized by a significant compensatory increase correlating with parasitemia. In general, thrombocytopenia was one of the earliest clinical manifestations of the infection with the platelets returning to normal levels shortly after peak parasitemia at 14 days. Platelet kinetics had a strong correlation with hematologic and parasitologic values in the Aotus model. No consistent associations were observed between platelet kinetics and other parameters in the Saimiri model. These data indicate that the Aotus model for malaria is more predictable than the Saimiri. Further, platelet turnover rates and recovery provide a useful prognostic parameter during malaria infection. The results are discussed in relation to the value of the two species of monkeys as models for the pathogenesis of human malaria.