Immunity to Babesia in mice. III. The effects of corticosteroids and anti-thymocyte serum on mice immune to Babesia rodhaini |
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Authors: | D Zivkovic J E Speksnijder H Kuil W Seinen |
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Institution: | Faculty of Veterinary Science, State University of Utrecht, Biltstraat 172, P.O. Box 80 172, 3508 TD Utrecht The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | BALB/c mice, immunized against Babesia rodhaini by an amicarbalide controlled infection, were exposed to selective immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids and anti-thymocyte serum (ATS) respectively. Hydrocortisone acetate, 100 mg/kg, given i.p. six times during the three weeks after challenge inoculation caused a rising parasitaemia and high mortality (6/7). Dexamethasone in the drinking water at 20 mg/l or 10 mg/l for 22 days had a similar suppressive effect on the protection against B. rodhaini. Mortality, 100% at the dose rate of 20 mg/l and 50% at 10 mg/l, occurred both in challenged and in carrier animals after the reappearance of parasites in the bloodstream. All the ATS-treated immune mice demonstrated parasitaemia after challenge, although at a lower level than did the corticosteroid treated mice. Seven out of 9 animals died. Corticosteroid-sensitive macrophages together with T-lymphocytes are considered to play an important role in protection against B. rodhaini in specifically induced immunity in mice. |
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Keywords: | Requests for reprints to H Kuil |
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