The stimulation of immunity and the induction of unresponsiveness to Trichuris muris in various strains of laboratory mice.

Abstract

The development of the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris has been studied in 6 strains of laboratory mice. In each strain, the development of an acquired immunity was apparent during the first 2 or 3 weeks of a primary infection and this immunity resulted in the elimination of the primary worm population. Mice that had successfully eliminated a primary infection were protected against a subsequent challenge infection. Four of the strains contained a small proportion of individual mice which did not acquire immunity to infection. When cortisone acetate was given to the mice during a primary infection, a specific unresponsiveness to the parasite was induced and the primary population was not eliminated. The significance of these results is discussed in terms of a genetically controlled variation in immunological response to T. muris in strains of laboratory mice.