The Effect of a Malaria Infection on the Titer of Complement and its Components in Ducks

[摘要] Using duck serum in the preparation of test reagents, it was possible to determine the titers of components of duck complement. In uninfected animals the average titers of complement and its components were as follows: C′ − 40, C′1 − 1080, C′2 − 100, C′3 − 90, C′4 − 180. In ducks undergoing infections with Plasmodium lophurae there was a reduction in C′ and in all components. The presence of an in vivo hemolysis was always coincident with a decrease in C′ and affected all components on the terminal day of infection. In subterminal hemolysis C′1 and C′3 were little affected in most instances, while C′2 and C′4 were sharply reduced. The drop in complement, the hemolytic reaction, and the destruction of parasites strongly suggest the intense antigen-antibody combination of acquired immunity.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）