Paralysis Associated with Plasiliodium berghei Malaria in the Rat

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Abstract
A paralytic effect was produced in rats inoculated with a mouse-passed strain (KBG 173) of Plasmodium berghei. Most paralyzed rats died within 24 hrs after the beginning of paralysis. Microscopic sections of brain and spinal cord revealed hemorrhagic areas in white and gray matter which were extensive in moribund animals. Paralysis occurred only in the presence of malaria. Filtered blood and saline suspensions of brain and spinal cord tissues from paralyzed animals inoculated together with a nonparalyzing strain rendered the strain paralyzing after an incubation period of 20 days. The possibility that either a modification of the malaria strain or the action of a filterable agent may be involved is discussed.