Some Factors Which Decrease Arterial Saturation in Bird Malaria-Ducks Infected with P. lophurae. ∗ †

Abstract

Summary

Data have been presented which indicate that the decreased arterial saturation, in vitro, of the blood of malarial-infected ducks may be caused by the state of acidosis and the presence of great numbers of young red cells during the terminal stage of P. lophurae infection. The combined effect of increased temperature and acidosis on the in vitro oxygen saturation is sufficient to reduce the percentage of saturation to 70%. No evidence was obtained for the existence of a “factor” in malarial duck blood which would prevent the saturation of the hemoglobin of normal red cells obtained from uninfected birds.