Toxoplasma gondii: In Vivo and In Vitro Cystogenesis of

Stimulation of lipid peroxidation of red cell membrane was evident from the increased levels of MDA and diene conjugate in the erythrocytes of kala-azar patients (Table I). The present study also reveals an inverse relationship of both MDA and diene conjugate level with hemoglobin content in the erythrocytes of kala-azar patients. This corroborates our earlier observation on an animal model (Biswas et al., 1995), suggesting enhancement of lipid peroxidation with the progress of anemia in visceral leishmaniasis. No report is yet available on the status of antioxidant defenses of red cells in visceral leishmaniasis. Decreases in the activities of protective enzymes like SOD, catalase, GSH-PX, and GR (Table I) may lead to increased susceptibility of red cells to peroxidation in the diseased state. Our results suggest a possibility of the association of lipid peroxidation with the anemia in visceral leishmaniasis. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating peroxidative injury in the erythrocytes of Indian kala-azar patients. However, the molecular mechanism involved with the free radical attack in this disease is yet to be explored.