Splenohepatomegaly in Protein-Malourished Mice Infected with Plasmodium Vinckei

Cellular and histopathological observations were made with light microscopy during the Plasmodium vinckeiinfection in protein-malnourished mice (fed on 2% casein diet and para-aminobenzoic acid deficient diet (PABA-DD).In the infected spleen, hyperplasia of the red as well as the white pulp was evident; active erythropoiesis and lymphopoiesis. Hyperemia and deposition of malarial pigments inside the macrophages. Cloudy swelling was noticed in the swollen hepatic cells of the uninfected liver due to protein deficiency. This lesion had developed to fatty infiltration in the infected protein-malnourished mice. These new and interesting changes represent the combined deleterious effect upon the host of infection and protein-malnutrition. Hypertrophy of the kupffer cells due to progressive phagocytosis of malarial pigments. In addition, focal necrosis surrounded by inflammatory cells was seen.

A Mathematical Model for the Dynamics of Hepatitis C

We formulate a model to describe the dynamics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) considering four populations: uninfected liver cells, infected liver cells, HCV and T cells. Analysis of the model reveals the existence of two equilibrium states, the uninfected state in which no virus is present and an endemically infected state, in which virus and infected cells are present. There exists a threshold condition that determines the existence and stability of the endemic equilibrium. We discuss the efficacy of the therapy methods for hepatitis C in terms of the threshold parameter. Success of the therapy could possibly be predicted from the early viral dynamics in the patients.