Cerebral malaria in inbred mice. I. A new model and its pathology.

Plasmodium berghei ANKA was tested for its usefulness as a model for cerebral malaria in inbred mouse strains A, A2G, A/J, C57L, SJL/J and SWR. A suitable model was obtained in A or A/J strain mice. Mortality was 100% after five to eight days with brain haemorrhages occurring terminally. The histopathology is described. The model was stable after six blood passages at 5- to 7-day intervals. Chloroquine abolished the haemorrhages and no intercurrent viral or blood protozoal infections were detected.