BLOOD

Plasmodium berghei, a rodent malaria parasite, has been widely employed as a model for studying malaria-induced pathophysiology. This study investigated the hematological and biochemical alterations associated with graded parasitemia in albino rats experimentally infected with P. berghei. Sixteen (n = 16) female albino rats weighing 130–174 g were randomly divided into four groups (n = 4 per group): a control group (uninfected) and three treatment groups infected with low (~1 × 10²), medium (~1 × 10⁴), and high (~1 × 10⁶) concentrations of parasitized red blood cells (iRBCs). Inoculation was performed intraperitoneally and animals were monitored for 42 days under standard housing conditions. Hematological parameters, including WBC, RBC, Hb, PCV, and differential leukocyte counts, were assessed using an automated hematology analyzer, while serum electrolytes, urea, and creatinine were measured to evaluate renal function. The results revealed significant changes in hematological indices across groups (p < 0.05). Rats in the high-infection group showed marked leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and monocytosis, alongside reductions in RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume compared to controls. Lymphocyte percentages were significantly elevated in mediumand high-infection groups, whereas eosinophil counts were markedly reduced in all infected groups. Biochemical analysis indicated a significant rise in serum urea levels in infected groups (p = 0.019), while serum creatinine remained unchanged (p = 0.184). These findings suggest that P. berghei infection induces dose-dependent hematological derangements and renal functional alterations, with elevated urea serving as a potential biomarker of malaria-associated renal stress. Further studies are recommended to delineate the mechanisms linking parasitemia severity to hematological and renal pathology.