IRON OVERLOAD INCREASES HEPATIC DEVELOPMENT OF PLASMODIUM-YOELII IN MICE

Iron overload in BALB/c mice by treatment with ferric ammonium citrate promotes the hepatic development of Plasmodium yoelii in vivo and in vitro. This was the result of increased penetration of the parasite in to hepatocytes since no effect was observed on parasite transformation or maturation. These results could explain why in endemic regions iro n supplementation led, in certain studies, to an increase in clinical episodes of malaria and in the prevalence of malaria infection.