A comparison of multiplication rates in primary and challenge infections of Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms.

The hypothesis that division of Trypanosoma brucei slender bloodstream forms is dependent upon the availability of a host-derived growth factor has been tested by superimposing challenge doses of slender-form trypanosomes onto preexisting infections at a time during the primary infection when stumpy forms predominated. The challenge populations grew in the doubly-infected mice indicating that depletion of a putative growth factor by the expanding population of the primary infection had not prevented division of the trypanosomes although slight reductions in multiplication rates were observed. This effect was independent of the variable antigen type (VAT) of the trypanosomes and of their stock of origin.