Influence of rodent malaria on the course of Leishmania enriettii infection of hamsters.

Plasmodium yoelii infection was established in hamsters, and the effect of this type of malaria on concurrent Leishmania enriettii infection was examined. It was found that the course of the L. enriettii infection was affected by P. yoelii and that this effect depended on the relative timing of the two infections. A chronic malarial infection with Plasmodium berghei was also established in hamsters, and this was found to affect the course of a concurrent L. enriettii infection in a similar manner to P. yoelii. These results are discussed in relation to current knowledge of the immunosuppressive effects of plasmodia.