Originally, isolated from thicket rats in Central Africa, P. berghei is one of four Plasmodium species that have been described in African murine rodents, the others being P. chabaudi, P. vinckei, and P. yoelii.

Due to its ability to infect rodents and relative ease of genetic engineering, P. berghei is a popular model organism for the study of human malaria.

After a short period (a few days) of development and multiplication, these parasites leave the liver and invade erythrocytes (red blood cells).

The multiplication of the parasite in the blood causes the pathology such as anaemia and damage of essential organs of the host such as lungs, liver, spleen.

[2] Chertow et al., 2015 find the asymmetric dimethylarginine-to-arginine ratio is indicative of disease severity in mice with P. berghei ANKA.

Plasmodium berghei is found in the forests of Central Africa, where its natural cyclic hosts are the thicket rat (Grammomys surdaster) and the mosquito (Anopheles dureni).

[citation needed] In research laboratories, various rodents can be infected, such as mice (Mus musculus), rats and gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

[8][9]: 97  Specifically, Sarfo et al., 2011 finds mice produce the cytokine interleukin-10 (cIL-10) to suppress otherwise-potentially-deadly CMM damage from others of their own immune factors.

[citation needed] In Mus musculus ⇔ the P. b. ANKA strain various genes affect the incidence of cerebral murine malaria.

[17] Plasmodium berghei infection of laboratory mouse strains is frequently used in research as a model for human malaria.