What changes does the infection cause?

[Swaefheard]

I've been considering the changes the parasite/infection has on people. I've written my initial thoughts here.

I don't understand why the infection caused Virginia's blood group to change. During feeding the blood is swallowed, so in an unturned person it would just be digested and absorbed. It would only be necessary for a vampire to have the universal recipient blood group if blood was transferred, vein to vein, or the infection caused changes to the digestive system.

The senses of hearing and smell become more acute. The eyes are modified and may develop something like the reflective layer found in cats and many other animals that improves the ability to see in low light conditions. Cats aren't thought to see colours particularly well though, so does Eli see in shades of grey at night or get upgraded human colour vision from the infection? Somehow I think the latter, because of the Rubik's cube scene.

Agility and muscular strength become much greater than in humans, making it possible to break someone's neck or even pull off their head.
Eli is shown to run fast with long strides and is able to climb trees and buildings with ease.

Additionally an ability to sense the sun before it is above the horizon seems to be gained, which would give more time to find safety.

I don't think anything is mentioned in the book about excretion of bodily wastes. Perhaps ingested blood is completely absorbed and no waste is produced. I recall Oskar wondering about that.

I can't even begin to work out how teeth, claws and wings are called into being. They just are. There is some scope for varying these features. Eli showed Oskar her teeth in her apartment and they didn't seem to be particularly frightening to him, yet after the events at the pool witnesses spoke of 'the kind of teeth like a lion'.

Eli appears to be quite light for her size. Does the infection cause unwanted organs to waste away?

A vampire like Eli can exist for centuries, maybe indefinitely as long as suitable food is available.
Injuries heal rapidly but require a recent meal of blood for best results.

I expect I have missed something!

[intrige]

People who are AB bloodtypes can resive many more types of blood than an bloot type B for example. Maybe so that the infection can handle any type of blood it can get to feed on..

[Swaefheard]

Yes, for a blood transfusion, but if the vampire drinks the blood why would that matter? (I shouldn't worry about such things ).

[intrige]

I donno why it matters, but it does I did not write this book

[Swaefheard]

It doesn't really It's just what the book does to me.

[Crow-453]

It would only be necessary for a vampire to have the universal recipient blood group if blood was transferred, vein to vein, or the infection caused changes to the digestive system.

Well, changes to the digestive system ARE made, I think, since blood is the only food source vampires have in LTROI.

[varamiglite]

You forgot to mention that the infection also leads to cramping bloating and indigestion. It may also lead to tooth decay and gingivitis. Some infected may experience symptoms similar to a rash. If any of these symptoms occur please contact a doctor immediately

[cherished memories]

You missed out the heart rate and breathing pattern changing =3 oh and the hibernation! hope this helped

[cx1138]

I don't understand the breathing part. I guess breathing is something that doesn't need to be done? In the beginning of the book Oskar saw Eli's breath. At the end in the tub she wasn't breathing. I assume she was breathing in the beginning to appear human, but when she sleeps she doesn't need to breathe. Virgina wasn't breathing and didn't realize it until she was going to sleep.

Another thing is the extremely fast healing. That's a good thing about the infection.

[metoo]

I don't understand the breathing part. I guess breathing is something that doesn't need to be done? In the beginning of the book Oskar saw Eli's breath. At the end in the tub she wasn't breathing. I assume she was breathing in the beginning to appear human, but when she sleeps she doesn't need to breathe. …

While I haven't fully made may mind up on this, I tend to a similar interpretation. Virginia apparently doesn't breathe but through a conscious effort. Maybe Eli's breathing, sweating, etc, all are a conscious effort to appear human? Or, rather, to be human. Eli regards himself as human, albeit with a very uncommon disease, and clinging to signs of human life such as breathing might be part of his strategy to keep his humanity. Not primarily for fooling other people, but for his own sake, to keep himself sane, from becoming a vampire.