Histologic Findings in Bone Marrow of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta) Experimentally Infected with Simian Plasmodium and Comparison of Decalcification Solutions Used in Processing of the Bone Marrows

摘要

Malaria, an infectious disease caused by a protozoal para-site (Plasmodium spp.), currently kills more than 1 millionpeople annually. The infection causes disease in young chil-dren and pregnant women in Africa and in many developingcountries. In humans, malaria infection induces neurologicimpairment, anemia, hypoglycemia, and low birth weightand interferes with normal development and survival.Experimental animal models have been extensively used inmalaria research for pathogenesis studies and in drug andvaccine development. We describe here the histologic find-ings in the bone marrows of rhesus macaques (Macacamulatta) experimentally infected with simian malaria(Plasmodium knowlesi). In addition, we compare two histo-logical techniques and discuss decalcification solutions andother pertinent procedures of critical importance inthe evaluation of these bone marrow specimens.