Effect of cortisone upon Ancylostoma caninum infection in albino mice

Abstract

The administration of cortisone in daily doses of 75 mg. per kg. subcutaneously to albino mice increased susceptibility to A. caninum infection, perhaps by suppression of immunity. Pre-infection treatment with cortisone did not influence susceptibility to infection more than treatment started on the day of infection. The average percentage of larvae recovered from the cortisone-treated mice was significantly greater than that of untreated control mice after 5 days of infection. Of all organs examined, the maximum numbers of larvae were obtained from lungs of both the test and control groups of mice for a noticeable period, the former group showing considerably higher recovery than the latter from the 3rd day till 10 days after infection. The mice, after cortisone treatment, did not provide a satisfactory medium to A. caninum larvae for further development even at 14 days after infection, indicating a poor host-parasite adaptation.