The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 14, Issue 4 493-500, Copyright © 1981 by Society for General Microbiology
The effect of body temperature and cell-mediated immunity on the growth of Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium leprae in mice
R. D. Lancaster, M. J. Colston, G. R. Hilson and S. M. Turner
Evidence is presented that the high susceptibility of armadillos to
infection with Mycobacterium leprae cannot be explained solely in terms of
body temperature because mutant mice maintained with a body temperature
similar to that of armadillos do not become heavily infected with M.
leprae. The depression of cell-mediated immunity accompanying the low body
temperature is not sufficient to produce an overwhelming infection. The
results obtained with M. marinum suggest that whereas lack of cell-mediated
immunity or a low body temperature result in a moderately enhanced
infection in the mouse a combination of both of these factors is required
to produce an overwhelming infection involving the internal organs.
