Effect of temperature and clofibrate on Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.

Parasitemia counts established that 22 degrees C-acclimated mice subjected to cold exposure for a short time (-35 degrees C for 30 min) during Plasmodium berghei infection had significantly higher parasitemia levels than parasitized mice continuously housed at 22 degrees C. Parasitized 5 degrees C-acclimated mice also demonstrated higher parasitemia levels than parasitized 22 degrees C-acclimated mice. There was no correlation between plasma free fatty acid (PFFA) concentration and parasitemia in mice infected with P. berghei. The effect of clofibrate (an agent known to reduce PFFA levels in rats) in reducing PFFA levels in mice was inconclusive. However, the P. berghei-infected mice treated with clofibrate demonstrated significantly lower parasitemia when compared to parasitized mice that were not treated with clofibrate.