The Infection of Reticulocytes by Plasmodium Vivax

SummaryFindings are presented based on a systematic and comparative study of the parasitic invasion of reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes in two patients experiencing moderately long, spontaneously-terminating vivax infections.Plasmodium vivax showed a definitely greater tendency to invade reticulocytes rather than mature erythrocytes, even in the face of a much larger available number of the latter. This applied to multiple as well as single infections.A well-defined reticulocytosis developed during the latter part of the infections; about this time the terminal drop in the parasite density commenced. Spontaneous termination of the attack preceded the return of the immature erythrocytes to normal numbers.