Different paths – the same virulence: Experimental study on avian single and co-infections with Plasmodium relictum and P. elongatum

We reveal that P. elongatum intensity of parasitemia is enhanced by the presence of P. relictum during co-infection, while the parasitemia of P. relictum stays the same.

This illustrates how development of a parasite (P. elongatum) which infects both mature and young (polychromatic) red blood cells (RBCs) is facilitated during co-infection with a parasite which specializes on adult RBCs only (P. relictum). The virulence of co-infections was similar to that of the more virulent parasite (P. elongatum). However, the profile of infection and the mechanisms that caused mortality were different.