EXPERIMENTAL PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII INFECTION IN NUDE RATS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (2) , 65-72
Abstract
The role of cell-mediated and humoral immunities to P. carinii infection was studied on athymic nude rats and their heterozygous euthymic littermates inoculated intranasally with 106 cysts. Some of both groups were injected s.c. with cortisone (25 mg) 2 times/wk. At 30 and 60 days postinoculation a large number of cysts were detected in the lung of cortisone treated euthymic rats as well as athymic rats with or without cortisone treatment. IgG antibody appeared in all groups of rats at 60 days postinoculation while IgM antibody was not detectable. Delayed type footpad reaction to P. carinii antigen was recognized in euthymic rats without cortisone at 4 and 5 wk postinfection but not in those rats with cortisone or without infection. Apparently cell-mediated immunity is important for protection of P. carinii infection in rat.

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