Effect of recombinant human (rh) IFN-α on parasitemia and blood parasite load of C57BL/6 mice infected with P yoelii 265 BY.
Mice were infected with 106 PE on day 0, and the number of parasites was determined every 2 days. The experimental mice were injected IP with IFN-α (5 × 104 U per injection) daily from day 0 to 25; control mice were similarly injected at the same time with PBS/BSA. Results are expressed either as the logarithm-transformed percentage of parasitemia (parasitized cells per erythrocyte number) (panel A) or as the logarithm-transformed blood parasite load (number of parasites per microliter blood) (panel B). Symbols represent the mean ± SE of 5 mice. The experiment was repeated twice with similar results. Each d refers to a dead mouse. *P < .05 (Mann-Whitney test). ○ indicates control; ▪, IFN-α.
