Generalized infection and lack of delayed hypersensitivity in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania tropica major

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Abstract
Susceptibility of a few mice strains to a s.c. injection of L. tropica major, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans, was studied. Infection in 6 strains (CBA, AKR/J, AKR/cu, C57BL/6, A/J and C3H) remained cutaneous and the animals recovered within 3-4 mo. Infection in BALB/c became generalized and killed 100% of infected animals. Injection i.p. of infected liver of BALB/c to A/J and syngeneic mice produced a lethal disease in BALB/c but no infection in A/J mice. Lower doses of the parasite produced a lethal infection in BALB/c but no apparent disease in A/J. The host rather than the parasite is responsible for the outcome of the disease. The peak antibody titer of BALB/c mice was not significantly higher than that of A/J mice. BALB/c showed no delayed hypersensitivity to Leishmania tested by footpad reaction, whereas A/J mice showed a strong response.